Stockholm congestion tax

The control point up to Essingeleden.

The Stockholm congestion tax (Swedish: Trängselskatt i Stockholm), also referred to as the Stockholm congestion charge, is a congestion pricing system implemented as a tax levied on most vehicles entering and exiting central Stockholm, Sweden.[1] The congestion tax was implemented on a permanent basis on August 1, 2007,[2][3] after a seven-month trial period between January 3, 2006 and July 31, 2006.[4] It was inspired by Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system, which was first introduced as the Area Licensing Scheme in 1975.

The primary purpose of the congestion tax is to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environmental situation in central Stockholm.[4] The funds collected will be used for new road constructions in and around Stockholm.[5]

A referendum was held in September 2006, a few months after the end of the trial period. In the referendum the residents of Stockholm municipality voted yes and in 14 other municipalities voted no to implement it permanently. On October 1, 2006, the leaders of the winning parties in the 2006 general election, declared they would implement the Stockholm congestion tax permanently.[5] The Riksdag approved this on June 20, 2007,[6] and the congestion tax came into effect on August 1, 2007.[2][3]

On 1 January 2016, congestion taxes were increased in the inner-city parts of Stockholm, and also the congestion tax began to be charged on Essingeleden. The measure was implemented not only to improve accessibility and the environment, but also to help develop the infrastructure.[7]

  1. ^ "Congestion tax in Stockholm from 1 August". Swedish Road Administration. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  2. ^ a b "Trängselskatt i Stockholm". Swedish Road Administration. Archived from the original on July 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  3. ^ a b "Odramatisk start för biltullarna". Dagens Nyheter. 2007-08-01. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  4. ^ a b "Stockholmsförsöket". Stockholmsförsöket. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  5. ^ a b "Vi säger ja till trängselskatten för att finansiera kringfartsleder". Dagens Nyheter. 2006-10-01. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  6. ^ "Riksdagen sade ja till trängselskatten". Sveriges Television. 2007-06-20. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  7. ^ Trafikverket (Swedish Transport Administration) and Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) (2015). "On 1 January 2016, congestion taxes in Stockholm will be raised and congestion tax will be levied on Essingeleden" (PDF). Transportstyrelsen. Retrieved 2016-06-29.