News
Stockholm says yes to Congestion Taxes
26th September 2006
Source: EurAktiv 19 September 2006; European Commission
Residents from Stockholm’s 461 municipalities voted in a referendum, on 17 September 2006, about the controversial traffic-control system tested in the city centre over a period of seven months.
A narrow majority (53%) voted in favour of the proposal - which would impose charges ranging from €1 to €2.10 each time car-drivers cross the city’s congestion zone on weekdays between 6:30 am and 6:29 pm – after studies showed that the trial had led not only to a decrease in congestion, but also to a reduction in traffic accidents and an improvement of the air quality.
Opponents to the taxes say they would hit low-and-middle income workers commuting from the suburbs and could hurt Sweden’s economy. But, cyclists, pedestrians, green groups and even drivers have welcomed the improvements brought by the system.
Nevertheless, even though the referendum was positive, it remains uncertain whether the system - introduced by Sweden's outgoing Social-Democrat government - will actually be implemented. Indeed, the formal decision rests with the central government – and a majority of Sweden’s newly elected centre-right coalition are strongly opposed to the system.
Links
Governments
• Stockholm City Council: The Stockholm trials 22 August 2005 - 31 July 2006
• Transport for London: Congestion charging
Industry Federations
• The International Association of Public Transport (UITP): UITP welcomes the vote in favour of the congestion charging system of the inhabitants of the city of Stockholm (18 September 2006)
Press articles
• International Herald Tribune: Stockholm voters approve contentious traffic congestion toll
• The Star: A vote for fewer cars
• Libération: Les Suédois épris du péage de ville
• 7sur7: Les Stockholmois votent "oui" au péage urbain dans la capitale
• Tagesschau.de: Stockholmer beschließen Auto-Maut
• Der Standard: Schicksal der Stockholmer City-Maut trotz Abstimmungs-Ja ungewiss
• EurActiv.hu: Stockholm belvárosát is adóval védik az autósoktól, ha a politika nem szól közbe
• Rzeczpospolita: Sztokholm - opłaty za wjazd do centrum
