– Tolls were the final straw, says Sander Bakkeli (27). He, his roommate and their three-year-old daughter had long been considering moving closer to family and friends in Lyngen. When it was decided that Tromsø will introduce tolls in October, the move became a reality. – I wanted to get away from the city, the expensive costs of tolls, and to have a slightly freer life. Low expectations for tolls The money from the toll ring will go towards improving roads for both bicycles, motorists and public transport in the municipality. Among other things, the tolls will go towards securing school roads and new bus terminals. A recent survey nevertheless shows that over a third of the respondents have very low expectations that the introduction of tolls in Tromsø will result in better road networks and pedestrian and cycle paths. The investigation was carried out by InFact on behalf of Nordlys and news. It is based on 1009 responses from people in Tromsø. Sander is also not satisfied with where the money will go. – There wasn’t much that benefited us as motorists, and I don’t cycle to work. Sander Bakkeli moved from the Tromsø area to avoid high tolls and to live a slightly freer life. Photo: Aurora Berg / news It’s natural that people are unsure Think Tromsø is behind the transport project that the tolls will help finance. They have also calculated how much it costs to pass the toll ring. If you drive to and from work during rush hour, and in addition cross the toll ring 16 times outside of work, the tolls will amount to NOK 1,382 a month. The figure applies to one car with a toll tag, according to Think Tromsø. Without a toll tag, the costs vary according to how many toll stations you pass, and will be significantly more expensive. Veronica Wiik is the tenant of the secretariat in Think Tromsø. She believes that the tolls play an important role in improving the transport offer in the municipality. – I think it is quite natural that many are unsure of what is to come. We are in the initial phase. Wiik acknowledges that they have a job to show the local population what kind of project comes out of the tolls. – After each one puts the spade in the ground, it will probably become more clear that there will be good projects that are useful in everyday life. Veronica Wiik believes that tolls are important for developing the transport offer in the municipality. Photo: Ingeborg Grindheim Slinde / news – Enormous impact on the private economy – We see from experience in other cities that people had low expectations before tolls were introduced. That’s what deputy mayor of Tromsø municipality Marlene Bråthen says. Marlene Bråthen believes that the toll ring will also benefit motorists. Photo: Andrine Gald Myklebust / news According to her, people still change their perception of tolls over time. Bråthen believes that people will see that good things come out of the toll ring – both for public transport travellers, cyclists and motorists. Bjørn-Gunnar Jørgens, group leader in Tromsø Frp, however, is not surprised by the results of the survey. – This will be a huge dent in people’s private finances. He believes that people in Tromsø need the car, and that one should make arrangements for it. Jørgensen does not think it is strange that Sander has moved from Tromsø. – Tromsø is one of the most expensive cities to live in in the country. Getting tolls on top of that will obviously be a burden that is difficult for many to bear. Shorter commuting distance and more money Before, Sander and his roommate commuted two and a half miles into the city center every day. According to him, the toll ring would make the journey about NOK 4,000 more expensive per month for families with small children. – I think the toll ring is boring, but it no longer concerns me. I don’t need to go to the city, says Sander. Now the journey is considerably shorter. With a shorter journey to work, the new life offers both extra free time and more money to spend. The commuter route to the shrimp factory is considerably shorter than the old two-and-a-half mile route. Photo: Aurora Berg / news
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Wanted to avoid expensive toll costs – news Troms and Finnmark
