[sustran] Stockholm Congestion Charge - Overview

Eric Britton eric.britton at ecoplan.org
Thu Feb 8 16:30:32 JST 2007


 


Stockholm Congestion Charge, Sweden

The Stockholm congestion charge is a traffic congestion and
environmental tax that has been imposed on the majority of vehicles in
Stockholm; it is the second of its kind to be introduced in Europe
following the highly controversial but none-the-less successful London
Congestion Charge introduced by the London Mayor, Ken Livingstone.
"Transponders fitted in vehicles means the system has a more reliable
capture rate and a more cost-effective back-room operation."
The Stockholm congestion charge was first introduced as a trial between
3 January 2006 and 31 July 2006. A referendum on the future of the
congestion charge was held in September 2006; the residents of Stockholm
municipality voted yes, and 14 other municipalities voted no to
implement it permanently.
In October 2006, the Swedish government declared that the Stockholm
congestion charge was to be introduced permanently during the first half
of 2007. The incomes from the reintroduced congestion charges in
Stockholm are to be used in partly financing a new bypass road,
'Förbifart Stockholm'.
IMPLEMENTING THE CONGESTION CHARGE
The Vägverket (Swedish Road Administration) is the body responsible for
the administration of the charge and its systems, while IBM was involved
as prime contractor responsible for solution design, development and
operation.
IBM built the on-demand solution using wireless RFID technology supplied
by Norwegian company Q-Free, one of the leading suppliers of technology
for road charging systems. The system works by using a Q-Free on-board
unit and road side technology in combination with an operational system
provided and run by IBM.
Payment is via a number of channels including by direct debit triggered
by the recognition of the on-board electronic tag that is loaned to
drivers. Q-Free cameras can also detect and record car number plate
images using Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software to
identify those vehicles without tags, and are also used to verify tag
readings and provide evidence to support the enforcement of non-payers.
The use of the transponders fitted in vehicles means the system has a
more reliable capture rate and a more cost-effective back-room operation
than congestion charging systems that do not use such devices. It also
makes it far easier to operate variable charging with automated direct
debit after the passage.
CONGESTION CHARGE EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions to the charge include emergency vehicles, buses, diplomatic
vehicles, disabled persons vehicles, military vehicles, hybrid or
electric cars, motorcycles and mopeds, and foreign-registered vehicles.
"The payment gates are equipped with number plate recognition cameras to
record the identity of vehicles."
The area of Lidingö has its only access to the mainland through the
congestion tax affected area – all traffic to and from Lidingö, to and
from the rest of the Stockholm County, is exempt from the tax, provided
that one passes the Ropsten payment station and some other payment
station within 30 minutes of each other.
The Essingeleden motorway (E4) that passes through the effected area is
also exempt, due to it being the main road when travelling past central
Stockholm. All exits and entrances of Essingeleden that are within the
congestion tax area have payment stations placed at them.
CONGESTION CHARGE AREA
The congestion charge area includes the whole of the Stockholm city
centre areas such as Södermalm, Norrmalm, Östermalm, Vasastaden,
Kungsholmen, Stora Essingen, Lilla Essingen and Djurgården. There are 18
unmanned electronic payment stations at all entrances to this area (this
is helped by the fact that Stockholm was built on a series of islands).
The congestion tax is applied to vehicles on both entry and exit of the
affected area.
The payment gates are equipped with number plate recognition cameras to
record the identity of vehicles passing through. Over 400,000 drivers in
Stockholm have already equipped their cars with a transponder for easy
payment and can pay automatically by Autogiro directly from their bank
account.
CHARGES
The amount to pay depends on the time of the day the driver enters or
exits the congestion tax area. The tax may be paid directly via a
website or over the telephone by credit card, or alternatively it can be
paid at any 7-11 and Pressbyrån convenience stores in the City.
The tax is not paid on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays or the day
before public holidays, nor during the night time period (18:30–06:29).
The maximum amount of charge per vehicle per day is 60 SEK (€6.44,
$8.23, £4.42). If the charge is not paid within five days, a reminder is
posted to the driver with an additional charge of 70 SEK; if the charge
is not paid within four weeks an additional fine of 500 SEK is added and
if not paid then the authorities can automatically remove the amount
from the offenders bank account. 
 

The Nortull congestion charge gate in Stockholm.
The Nortull congestion charge gate in Stockholm.

One of the other 18 payment gates for the Stockholm congestion charge
area.
One of the other 18 payment gates for the Stockholm congestion charge
area.

A map of the 18 congestion charge gates around Stockholm.
A map of the 18 congestion charge gates around Stockholm.

A gate gantry being installed with cameras and transponder technology.
A gate gantry being installed with cameras and transponder technology.

The Stockholm congestion charge may be paid at convenience stores.
The Stockholm congestion charge may be paid at convenience stores.

An in-car transponder can provide automatic payments for the congestion
charge.
An in-car transponder can provide automatic payments for the congestion
charge.

 
 
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