Report: Congestion charges would improve appeal of downtown Helsinki

Mayor Pajunen dismisses ministry’s inquiry as goal-directed

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The introduction of congestion charges in the Greater Helsinki Area would not weaken but rather add to the vitality of Central Helsinki.
      This is the conclusion of the Ministry of Transport and Communications inquiry into the congestion charges. The findings of the inquiry were handed to the Minister of Transport and Communications Anu Vehviläinen (Centre Party) yesterday, Wednesday.
      According to the report, as a result of the congestion charges the shopping centres situated along the Helsinki region ring roads might experience slight customer loss. Central Helsinki, to where there are excellent public transportation connections, would in turn become an increasingly attractive location for businesses.
      “Stockmann has nothing to fear with regard to the congestion charges, but Jumbo might well have”, summarises ministerial adviser Tuomo Suvanto, referring to the central Helsinki department store and a large shopping mall by the side of one of the ring roads, near the Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport.
     
Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen dismisses the inquiry’s findings as goal-directed.
      “In the report it is difficult to see what is researched information and what is wishful thinking. One gets the impression that the conclusions were written down first. The congestion charges have become an ‘-ism’ of a sort, and some people insist on pursuing them at any cost.”
      The Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce also views the findings of the report as false.
      “I totally disagree with the findings. How many people from Central Helsinki utilise Jumbo’s services does not compare to the number of people who travel here from beyond the ring roads”, says the Chamber of Commerce Deputy Managing Director Jorma Nyrhilä.
      According to the Ministry no other measure - not even making public transportation free - would reduce traffic jams in the capital area as efficiently as the introduction of congestion charges.
      In Pajunen’s view, however, the Helsinki region traffic systems should be developed by stronger transport investments, particularly in the sector of public rail traffic.
      “There are many issues that call for a more in-depth examination. For example, can the downtown service tunnel be used to improve the flow of vehicular traffic?” Pajunen suggests.
     
Pajunen has long opposed the introduction of the congestion charges.
      Most recently Pajunen and Mayor Juhani Paajanen of Vantaa took a negative stand towards the charges in a Helsingin Sanomat interview at the beginning of June.
      On Wednesday, Minister Vehviläinen referred to the interview by saying that presenting strong views should be avoided.
      “My wish is that we could concentrate on the in-depth analysis at this point, and save the strong expressions of opinion for later”, Vehviläinen added.
      An examination of the congestion charges does not automatically mean that they will be introduced. In the autumn the Ministry will start asking for statements with regard to the report.
      After that an additional inquiry into the matter will follow.
     
The real hot potato in all this is to whom the levied money will go.
      Presently congestion charges are considered tax revenue, and the profits would therefore flow to the state’s purse. The capital area communities, in turn, feel the levied funds should be used, for example, to develop the area’s traffic connections.
      According to Juhani Tervala, the highest-ranking civil servant at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, a consensus must be reached with regard to the money issue, before any further perusal of the matter can go forward.
      “It is difficult to justify the introduction of the charges unless people know what the revenue will be used for”, Tervala reasons.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Congestion charging could bring the state more than EUR 100 million every year (5.6.2009)
  Helsinki to study introduction of congestion charge (25.1.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat