Oxfordshire County Council is preparing to decide on a £4.2 million plan to invest income from the city’s temporary congestion charge into a range of local travel improvements. The cabinet is expected to meet this month to finalise how these funds, which by law must be spent on transport schemes, will be used to support commuters and improve local infrastructure.
One of the primary proposals being considered is a £3 combined park and ride ticket that would remain available until the end of December 2026. This potential offer comes as the current free park and ride bus travel scheme is set to end on 31 May 2026. Commuters who have been using the free service are being advised that they have three weeks remaining to take advantage of the current arrangement before the council concludes its decision-making process.
The proposed investment package also includes specific support for key workers. Under the new plans, NHS and school staff working in Oxford would be eligible for nine months of free weekday park and ride parking and bus travel, beginning 1 June 2026. Additionally, the council is looking into a hospital express park and ride service, which would run for 12 months starting 1 October 2026.
Beyond vehicle-based travel, the council is proposing several enhancements to active travel infrastructure. These include the installation of new pedestrian crossings, improvements to side road entry points, the provision of secure cycle parking, and efforts to connect missing links in the existing cycle network. These plans follow significant growth in the popularity of park and ride services, with the Redbridge site recording a 33 per cent increase in car entries in January 2026 compared to the same month the previous year.
The temporary congestion charge was introduced on 29 October 2025 as an interim measure while Botley Road remains closed for essential works at the train station. The charge is expected to remain in place until the road reopens, which is anticipated for August 2026, at which point it will be replaced by a planned traffic filter trial.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
