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Transport for London (TfL) has revealed that implementing the August expansion of the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) has cost up to £155 million. This comes after an initial higher estimate of £159.5 million in 2022.
The cash has been spent on aspects of the scheme, including, officials say, 'signage, detection and enforcement infrastructure, marketing, project overheads and risk'.
More drivers of non-compliant vehicles (broadly pre-2005 petrol and pre-2015 diesel) face paying a £12.50 daily fee as the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, looks to decrease the amount of particulate matter and nitrous oxides in Outer London's air.
But bosses have said that the London-wide ULEZ is expected to generate up to £200 million a year in net revenue for the first two years. This means costs could be recouped in as little as nine months.
Post 2026/27, as motorists adapt to the rules, the cash - to be spent on London's transport network, such as the Underground and buses - is expected to dry up.
In an answer to a freedom of information request from a member of the public, TfL wrote: "The estimated final cost to deliver the expanded scheme was reported in November 2022 as £159.5m. However, since this time we have undertaken further work and now expect the costs to be in the range of £145 -155m.