Options for solving traffic congestion in Helsinki
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Problem: The Centre of Helsinki is filling up with cars, and the streets get crowded.
Possible solution 1: Expensive parking fees.
Pro: City earns revenue. The money can be used for planning and constructing a pedestrian centre area.
Con: Motorists will continue to drive into the centre even if parking fees exceed the pain threshold.
Possible solution 2: Development of public transport, through the westward extension of the Metro, more bus and tram lines, and local train traffic to the west of the city. Employers would replace company cars with employer-financed public transport tickets, and a hard line would be taken on fare dodging.
Pro: Public transport becomes a more attractive option.
Con: Motorists might continue to drive even if public transport would bring them to their destination faster.
Possible solution 3: Improving streets and roads. This has been tried: the Länsiväylä motorway flows smoothly, but backs up near the centre of Helsinki where there is a serious bottleneck. Only a certain number of cars will fit onto the narrow streets of the centre at one time.
Pro: Traffic to the centre of the city would flow more smoothly.
Con: Centre parking spaces would be insufficient and the number of cars could increase.
Possible solution 4: Construction of a tunnel beneath the centre of the city to link the eastern and western motorways, as well as a service tunnel.
Pro: less driving above ground, making it easier to establish a pedestrian zone in the centre.
Con: When some of the cars go under ground, there would be more room for them on the surface, which could encourage people to drive into the centre.
Possible solution 5: Rush hour fees have been proposed for drivers entering the centre at certain times of the day.
Pro: The city would earn revenue which could be used for the financing of the pedestrian zone in the centre.
Con: Motorists, who are already heavily taxed in Finland, would be upset.
Possible solution 6: Banning cars from an area in the centre, where buses, taxis, and trams would be the only motorised vehicles allowed. Parking garages would be set up on the edges of the city, with non-stop public transport to the centre.
Pro: Less noise and accidents, with improved air quality, and a more pleasant centre area.
Con: Cars and rush hours would move from the centre of city to the outskirts. Traffic on the ring roads would increase substantially.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 22.9.2005
More on this subject:
 If driving were banned in the centre of Helsinki
Helsingin Sanomat
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