Congestion Charging Scheme

Background

Following a consultation process (2001-2002), our client was mandated to implement a Road User Pricing Scheme. Although the Procurement Strategy and Concept had been defined, the detailed procurement had yet to be defined or undertaken. A wide variety of issues surrounding technology, infrastructure and enforcement needed to be resolved quickly in order to meet an aggressive target launch date.

At the same time, the team needed to design and procure a complex set of systems and services that had never been attempted on such a scale before. This design and procurement exercise needed to be achieved under intense public scrutiny.

Business Challenge

Strong programme management and governance
In depth knowledge of Road Pricing and supporting technologies: CCTV ANPR etc.
Knowledge of legal requirements surrounding IT data collection, storage, processing and security to provide robust evidence for enforcement
Excellent IT technology capability for design and implementation management
Leadership in managing IT procurement

Our Approach

Our team brought together an expert understanding of the technology and the enforcement framework. This allowed achievement of key milestones within very short timescales, whilst bringing knowledge of best practice and experience of successful implementations.

Our approach firstly defined the overall strategy and then developed contracts for customer contact and payment services, as well as Statements of Requirements for the roadside enforcement infrastructure.

We prepared specifications and tender documents for all system related elements and supported the evaluation of resulting tenders.

We also provided expert support to define and negotiate technical interfaces with 3rd parties and in parallel formulated the “evidential strategy”, a key factor in ensuring that the charging scheme would work.

Following contract award our team assisted with oversight of the commercial contract.

Business Outcome

The team worked with the customer at all levels, from the Directors of Congestion Charging downwards to successfully delivering the scheme within tight time scales. 

Consulting Stream has since played lead roles in extensions to the scheme and in trials of new technologies.

Services Provided

• Complex IT programme management
• Stake holder  management
• CCTV/ANPR technology
• IT design and specification
• Procurement process management
• Project management
• Supplier management

Skills Deployed

• Road pricing expertise
• CCTV/APNR roadside technology
• IT and Telecoms design
• Programme management
• Procurement skills

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