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The Stockholm Trials - Congestion charge in Stockholm. Muriel Beser Hugosson, PhD. Congestion charging in Stockholm. On 2 June 2003 the Stockholm City Council adopted a majority proposal to introduce congestion charging on a trial basis
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The Stockholm Trials - Congestion charge in Stockholm Muriel Beser Hugosson, PhD
Congestion charging in Stockholm On 2 June 2003 the Stockholm City Council adopted a majority proposal to introduce congestioncharging on a trial basis On 16 June 2004 the Swedish Parliament adopted The Congestion Charge Act
3 parts Public transport 22 August 2005 – 31 December 2006 Congestion charges 3 January – 31 July 2006 Referendum 17 september 2006
Objectives • Reduce traffic volumes by 10-15% on the most congested roads • Increase the average speed • Reduce emissions of pollutants harmful to human health and of carbon dioxide • Improve the urban environment as perceived by Stockholm residents
18 control points a charge was made when entering/ exiting the centre of Stockholm E4/E20 bypass free of charge County 6500 km2 Charging zone 47km2 City of Stockholm 770 000 inhab. Charging zone 280 000 inhab. County 1.9 millions inhab.
Laser Camera Antenna No barriers, no stops, no roadside payments • Amount due for payment shown at the control point • Automatic identification. License plates were photographed • A limited part of the car was shown on photograph
PEAK PERIODS 7.30-8.30 a.m., 4-5.30 p.m SEK 20 EUR 2 Congestion charges and times SEMI PEAK PERIODS 7.-7.30 a.m., 8.30-9 a.m. 3.30-4 p.m., 5.30-6 p.m. SEK 15 EUR 1.5 MEDIUM-VOLUME PERIODS 6.30-7 a.m., 9 a.m.-3.30 p.m. 6-6.30 p.m. SEK 10 EUR 1 MAXIMUM CHARGE: SEK 60/day EUR 6 Evenings, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays: NO CHARGE
Improved Public Transport • 12 new express bus lines • 18 bus lines with extended service • Improvements of rail-bound lines • 1800 new park- and-ride places
Evaluation tasks • Car Traffic • Public transport • Stockholm county travel survey • Business and economic impacts • Retail sales, contractors, taxi, transport services etc • Environment and Health effects • Other studied effects • Traffic safety, attitude surveys, events affecting the evaluation programme • Cost benefit analysis • Effects on regional economy
Passages in/out of congestion charging zone 06:00 – 19:00 End of trial -22 % passages in/out of congestion charging zone
Passages in/out of the congestion charging zone Vehicles/h Time
Public transport 2006 compared with 2005 • Extended public transport itself did not increase amount of passengers • Increase of passengers 6 % (4.5 % due to congestion charging) • Accessibility increased • Small increase of congestion in underground
Which car trips have ”disappeared”? other -33% leisure -23% shopping/services -27% business -30% Work/school -22%
Where did the they go? • Leisure, shopping/services, business and other: • Not public transport • Instead: • Change of destination • Change of route • Less trips • Work/School: • To public transport • Change of route
Traffic safety • Less traffic – fewer accidents • Higher travel speed – worse injuries (small effect) • Time period too limited to observe accident rates • Estimated reduction of personal injury accidents of 5 - 10 % within the congestion charging zone
Environment and health effects • Climate effects large for a single measure • Emissons were reduced in the ”right” area Inner City 9-14 % reduction County 2-3 % reduction
Retail • Minor effects on the retail trade • Department stores, malls and shopping centres trade increased 7 % in city (+ 7 % in nation) • Small-scale shops sales -6 % (trend)
Cost benefit analysis • Costs of the trial EUR 340 millions (revenue EUR 75 millions) • Congestion tax as permanent feature • EUR 76.5 millions/year – considerable values in social benefit • Payback time 4 years • Expansion of bus traffic as permanent feature • Benefits EUR 18 millions/year • Operating costs EUR 52 millions/year
The objectives were fulfilled • Reduce traffic volumes by 10-15% on the most congested roads • Reduction of 20-25% • Increase the average speed • Travel times reduced 30-50%, except of E4/E20 • Reduce emissions of pollutants harmful to human health and of carbon dioxide • 14% reduction in city centre, 2.5% Stockholm County • Improve the urban environment as perceived by Stockholm residents • Difficult to measure
Was it a good idea to carry out the congestion charge trial? Good idea Bad idea
Results of the referendum 17 Sept 2006 Yes No Stockholm 51.3 % 45.5 % County (14 Municipalities) 39.8 % 60.2 %
Lessons learned • Better public transport cannot reduce road congestion on its own • If congestion charge is made permanent • Simple zone structure seems to work OK • Charge levels and time periods can be fine-tuned • Continue simplification of payment and administration • Consider seasonal traffic variation • Charge on E4/E20? • Change of opinion when people get real experience
The process efter the referendum • Conservative Liberals have decided to introduce congestion charges in August 2007 • The revenue should be used to invest in new roads in the Stockholm County • No extended public transport • Small changes of system
Thank you!Muriel Beser Hugossonmuriel@trivector.seInformation on the webwww.trivector.sewww.stockholmsforsoket.se