The Stockholm congestion charges - 5 years on. Effects, acceptability and lessons learnt

Congestion charges were introduced in Stockholm in 2006, first as a trial followed by a referendum, then permanently from 2007. This paper discusses what conclusions can be drawn from the first five years of operation, until mid-2011. The authors show that the traffic reduction caused by the charges has increased slightly over time, once external factors are controlled for. Alternative fuel vehicles were exempt from the charges through 2008, and it is shown that this substantially increased the sales of such vehicles. The paper discusses public and political acceptability, synthesising recent research and Swedish experience. It is concluded that objective and subjective effects on the traffic system, as well as general environmental and political attitudes, formed the basis of the strong public support, while institutional reforms and resolution of power issues were necessary to gain political support. Finally, the authors briefly discuss implications for the transport planning process in general.

• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X11001284
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/29485010
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Borjesson, Maria
  • Eliasson, Jonas
  • Hugosson, Muriel B
  • Brundell-Freij, Karin
• Publication Date: 2012-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-12
• Serial:
  • Transport Policy
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0967-070X
  • Serial URL: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/issn/096707X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance; Congestion pricing; Impacts; Lessons learned; Political factors; Public opinion; Traffic congestion
• Geographic Terms: Stockholm (Sweden)
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01369964
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: May 16 2012 3:05PM