'Rush hour fee' to tackle urban traffic

Air Bridges in Shanghai上海1933老場坊

上海1933老場坊


DRIVERS face having to pay a "rush hour fee" in congested areas as Shanghai seeks to improve traffic flow and reduce pollution, city officials said yesterday. A rush hour fee was included in a package of tough traffic measures announced last month for Beijing. And a similar charge will be one of a number of initiatives implemented over the next five years in a bid to solve to Shanghai's traffic problems, according to Zhang Zaiyang, a local lawmaker. However, he did not give details of what the fees would be, nor where they would apply. "Certain policies are still being studied," said Zhang. He added that the public transport system will be improved over the next few years to better serve local residents. More education institutions and hospitals will also be moved to outlying areas. "It will help Shanghai go green and cut its carbon emission," said Zhang. Transport accounted for 24 percent of the city's total energy use in 2008, and the figure is still rising.

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