Helsinki votes in favour of congestion charges

Historic decision after 8-6 vote

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On Monday, the City of Helsinki Board voted in favour of congestion charges for the capital region. The vote was preceded by a heated but fairly short debate on the issue.
      A decision on the proposal that had earlier been shelved twice was eventually made after an 8-6 vote in favour.
      Those supporting the idea of congestion charging included the Green League, the Social Democratic Party, the Left Alliance, and the Centre Party.
      The National Coalition Party and the Swedish People’s Party voted against the proposal.
      One of the Social Democrats, Arto Bryggare, abstained.
     
The statement issued by the City Board says that the capital takes a positive stand on congestion tolls. The city expects the Ministry of Transport and Communications to initiate preparations for the required new legislation.
      Mari Puoskari (Green League), the deputy chair of the City Board, described the decision as historic.
      ”For the first time in history, the City of Helsinki is taking a positive stand on congestion charging. This was a very significant decision”, Puoskari declared after the meeting.
      The statement of the City Board included several specifications. For example the collected funds should be allocated to the development of public transport in the capital region.
     
”The legislation relating to congestion charges should define that Helsinki Region Transport (HSL), the new municipal transport authority that will begin operating on 1 January 2010, will have the right to collect such charges”, says Puoskari.
      ”Then the collected funds would not flow to the provinces. If the proposed congestion charges reduce the use of private cars, while increasing the use of public transport, we will need funds to develop our public transport system”, Puoskari continues.
      The opinion of Risto Rautava (National Coalition Party), the chair of the City Board, was completely different.
      ”In my view, this was one of the most idiotic decisions made during this autumn. Expressly the decision to ask the ministry to initiate preparations for new legislation on the basis of an insufficient study”, Rautava argues.
     
Rautava regards as insufficient for example the examinations conducted relating to the economic impacts expected if congestion charging were to be introduced in the Helsinki region.
      ”I am surprised at the negative stand taken by the National Coalition Party. The party insists on clinging to their old views even though the facts have been put on the table”, Puoskari says, referring to the congestion charge study conducted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
     
On Monday, Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen (Nat. Coalition Party) was unwilling to comment on the decision made by the City Board.
      The proposed congestion charges will be introduced in the middle of the next decade at the earliest. The technical and juridical preparations of the system will take their own time.
      One of the open questions is whether the fares would be collected on the basis of vehicle-kilometres or based on specific payment zones.
      ”Moreover, the technical implementation of the congestion charging system has not been completed yet. In addition, various further clarifications and statements will easily take five years”, Mari Puoskari estimates.
     
”The introduction of use-based transport pricing systems will be evaluated, including experiments with intelligent road toll systems”, states the Government Programme of the present Cabinet.
      Puoskari hopes that the next Government Programme could include a decision on congestion charging.
      ”Such an important issue calls for national-level decision-making”, says Puoskari.
     
The City of Espoo continues to oppose the introduction of congestion tolls.
      At its meeting on Monday, the City of Espoo Board only suggested that the evaluation of the introduction of congestion charges should be continued.
      In Espoo’s view, the congestion charge study conducted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications does not contain an overview of the impact of such tolls on the economy and costs of living.
      However, the city stated that reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved traffic flow as well as improvements in public transport are all sound objectives.
     
According to a recent report issued by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, congestion charging would be a very effective tool for increasing the demand for public transport.
      As many as 10 to 20 per cent of private car users would transfer to public transport if the planned congestion tolls were introduced.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Vantaa fears that congestion tolls could slow down airport traffic (21.9.2009)
  Congestion charging could bring the state more than EUR 100 million every year (5.6.2009)

Links:
  Helsinki Region Transport (HSL)
  Ministry of Transport and Communications

Helsingin Sanomat