Traffic Congestion of Stockholm: Polices & Implementation

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.
The first 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’.

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.

First policy implementation of congestion charge to reduce traffic congestion

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.
Latest Policy Implementation

In 2016, Stockholm’s excellent public transport system was boosted with new ferry lines; a congestion
charge reduced traffic volumes; and a new traffic management centre kept drivers moving. The new
tunnel, and expanded terminal for commuter trains, will further reduce rush hour traffic in 2017.
Stockholm has a comprehensive plan to reduce congestion and improve the environment and the Traffic
Management Center (TMC) is an important part of the Swedish ITS-strategy signed by the Swedish
government.
 The city has for a long time worked to build public transportation in a context with housing and
work places. One example is Hammarby Sjöstad (Hammarby Sea town) were only 21% of trips
are made by car, set as an example even by London.
 A big new terminal for commuting trains has been built under Stockholm city and will open in
spring 2017, increasing the number of tracks and capacity for trains through Stockholm with
100%.
 As Stockholm is built on islands, new ferry lines for passengers have started to increase public
transport capacity
 The TMC in Stockholm is organised as a cooperation between the city and the Swedish Transport
Administration and in 2016 the closely linked suburb Nacka has joined the TMC. The plan is to
increase the TMC with even more suburbs for an effective traffic management of the whole
network.
 The TMC is involved in coordinating work done on the streets of Stockholm to reduce
congestion.
 The Traffic department has recently employed more highly skilled traffic analytics to deal with
congestion.
 The newly extended Road charging has reduced traffic volume in rush hours.
 New taxation for parking is introduced to reduce traffic inside the city-centre.
 The city is promoting environmentally friendly cars and in a project in 2015 financed 50% of the
extra cost (compared to a petrol car) of an electric car (max 10.000 euro per car/buyer).
 Stockholm is running projects to increase off-peak deliveries of goods.
 All traffic signals are optimised for traffic and many have bus priority.
 The city has successfully introduced dust binding methods on streets to reduce air pollution, PM-
10 (was a big problem during winter).

References
1.https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/city/stockholm
2.https://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/stockholm-congestion/