Oxfordshire County Council has announced plans to spend £4.2 million on travel improvements across Oxford, using money collected from the city’s temporary congestion charge. Local leaders are set to debate the proposed upgrades during a meeting on 21 April 2026.
The temporary congestion charge was introduced on 29 October 2025 as a stopgap measure while Botley Road remains closed for a Network Rail upgrade at Oxford Station. The road closure has been extended several times and is now expected to last until August 2026, which has also delayed the launch of the city’s planned traffic filter trial.
Since the charge was introduced, the scheme has generated £1.7 million in total revenue. While the monthly target for the charge was originally £320,000, the council collected more than £1 million in January 2026 alone. A significant portion of that month’s income—roughly £757,000—came from fines issued to drivers who did not pay the daily charge.
The proposed £4.2 million investment plan includes several measures to assist commuters. The council aims to extend the current offer of free park and ride bus travel until the end of December 2026. Additionally, the plan provides for nine months of free weekday park and ride parking and bus travel for school and NHS staff working in Oxford, beginning on 1 June 2026.
The funding would also support the Connect to Work programme, allowing participants to receive six months of free bus travel during 2026 and 2027. Further improvements to cycling and walking routes, as well as the introduction of hospital express park and ride services, are also included in the proposal.
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