Mayor Pajunen opposes Helsinki congestion charge

Jussi Pajunen

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Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen (Nat. Coalition Party) has come out against congestion charges in the Helsinki region in an interview with the late-edition tabloid Ilta-Sanomat.
      Pajunen said that he fears that a costly system is being set up in Helsinki, whose economic benefits will go to other parts of the country.
      “The danger is that we are building the world’s most expensive flop in Finland”, Pajunen says.
      According to Ilta-Sanomat, Pajunen’s declaration means that congestion charges will not be imposed on motorists in Helsinki at least as long as the National Coalition Party holds its present position of power in the capital.
     
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is studying the possible impacts that various models for congestion charges would have on the Helsinki region.
      Under investigation are three payment models, two of which are based on boundaries, the crossing of which by car incurs a fee. In the third model, the fee is based on the number of kilometres driven.
      Juhani Tervala, head of the transport policy section of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, does not want to comment on Pajunen’s views.
      “We have promised to examine these [congestion fee] models.”
      However, Tervala feels that if the models are implemented, it should happen in cooperation between the state and local authorities.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki to study introduction of congestion charge (25.1.2008)
  COMMENTARY: Congestion charge? Not on my street! (16.3.2009)
  No shortage of opinions about congestion charges (18.3.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat