Metro Morning

As drivers deal with this morning's backup from the 400 to the eastbound 401, Toronto is hosting a conference, outlining steps other cites around the world have taken to combat traffic jams.

Here's CBC Toronto's Jamie Strashin:

Transportation consultant Martin Collier just wants to discuss the idea of road tolls and congestion charges.

Collier says it's a popular topic, everywhere but here.

"As we can see from Holland they've been talking since 1982 in London since 1865..so if we get started... it's happening everywhere else except for here."

Around the world in cities like Stockholm and Milan... something that was once seen as political suicide is taking hold.

Londons' had a so called congestion tax for more than five years. If a motorist enters a roughly 60 square kilometer area of downtown London between 7am and 6pm... it costs about 15 Canadian dollars each time.

Andrew Price helped implement the system.

"It's all monitored by cameras so you don't have to stop then you pay the charge online or by phone and the goal has been to reduce congestion in London and improve the air quality The charge has reduced the number of cars by 15 percent. It also generates $250 million a year... all of which is spent directly on public transit."

It's public transit Price says that's made London's plan work.

"People have to have alternatives ..about 90 percent come into the central area by public transport and those people that use to drive in know there is an alternative."

Typically in places where a tax exists.. about 70 percent of people initially rejected the idea. That number usually reversed after people witnessed a positive impact on quality of life.