Congestion Pricing Returns to Stockholm

6:11 PM EDT on August 1, 2007

Sweden re-launched its congestion pricing system today following a 6-month trial and voter referendum last September,
in which Stockholm residents approved the traffic control measure by a margin of 52 to 45. The referendum was a definitive victory for a system that reduced Stockholm's traffic congestion by as much as 50 percent and decreased noxious air pollution by 14 percent (you can see some stats here). Notably, prior to the 6-month trial run, polls showed that as many as 80 percent of Stockholm residents were against the idea congestion pricing.

The Local reports on the newly relaunched pricing system:

There will be a number of key differences between the new arrangementsand those during last year's trial. One change is that the transponders- electronic devices used in the trial to make it possible to take thecharge directly out of drivers' accounts - will not be used. Instead,cameras will read cars' plates, and those vehicles whose drivers areregistered will have the money debited directly from their accounts.
Other drivers, as before, will have to pay the charge within 14 days ofdriving in the zone. This can be done online, at Pressbyrån or 7-Elevenstores or in banks.
Another key difference is that taxis will no longer be exempted frompaying the charge. A number of taxi operators have already said theyplan to increase charges as a result. The charge will be tax-deductablefor some companies and commuters.

Mike Castleman, a New Yorker currently in Stockholm offers some congestion pricing photographs on Flickr. Below is a photo of the pricing menu, which charges different fees based on time-of-day. "Kr" stands for Kronor, the Swedish currency.

Aaron Naparstek

AARON NAPARSTEK is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparsteks journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. Naparstek is the author of "Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage" (Villard, 2003), a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the endless motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Prior to launching Streetsblog, Naparstek worked as an interactive media producer, pioneering some of the Web's first music web sites, online communities, live webcasts and social networking services. Naparstek is currently in Cambridge with his wife and two young sons where he is enjoying a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He has a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Naparstek is a co-founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and the Grand Army Plaza Coalition. You can find more of his work here: http://www.naparstek.com.

Congestion Pricing Returns to Stockholm

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