Manchester rejects high-tech transport plans

Manchester's ambitious high-tech transport plans have been put on hold following the rejection of a bid for government funding in a referendum last week.

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) was planning to use a £1.5bn grant from the Department for Transport's Innovation Fund (TIF) to implement road pricing, as well as a travel smartcard system similar to London's Oyster card.

The road pricing scheme was going to use tag and beacon technology - as seen in Sydney and Singapore - to charge people travelling into the city at peak times.

The funding would also have been used to fund other transport proposals including a more widespread bus service, new Metrolink stations and improvements to trains serving the city.

But the rejection of the GMPTA's bid for funds by Manchester's residents means these plans are unlikely to come to fruition as planned.

An additional £1.2bn of funding that was to be made available against future revenue from the congestion charge is also no longer possible.

The GMPTA has said it "will take time to reflect on the outcome" of the referendum and look at how some of the major transport projects may still be possible in the future.

Chair of the GMPTA, councillor Matt Colledge, said Greater Manchester had taken a "bold step" with its plans but now needs to look to secure alternative funding for these and rethink how existing funds should be prioritised.

He added that the work that went into the TIF bid will play a significant part in establishing the transport investment priorities for Greater Manchester in the future.