The municipalities in and around Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim have so-called urban growth agreements with the state. Put simply, this ensures government funding of local public transport measures in the period up to 2029. In return, the municipalities must achieve zero growth in car traffic. For the period 2023–2029, the four urban areas can secure a total of NOK 525 million more annually for collective investment from the state than they have today. In total, it will be close to NOK 3.7 billion during the period. This is shown by figures compiled by the Ministry of Transport and Communications for news. The “Toll Revolt” The background for the extra funds these city areas are now receiving is the “Toll Revolt” which dominated the municipal elections in 2019. The newly started party People’s Revolt no to more tolls (FNB) surged forward and turned the balance of power upside down, especially in the Bergen area. FNB’s walsiger 2019 In Bergen and the three neighboring municipalities of Alver, Askøy and Øygarden, the new party Folkeaksjonen no to more tolls (FNB) received a total of over 14 percent of the municipal representatives. In Bergen city council, FNB was the third largest party (16.7 percent support gave them 11 out of 67 representatives), almost as big as Høgre (14) and Ap (13). In the neighboring municipality of Alver, FNB was the largest party (22.1 per cent gave them 10 out of 47 representatives). In Stavanger/Sola/Sandnes (9-10 per cent) and Oslo (5.8 per cent) FNB also gained a lot of support. The focus on tolls in the election campaign led to major tensions between the governing party Høgre, the Progressive Party and the Liberal Party. Even with the fact that they entered into a toll settlement. The settlement meant that the government contribution in the urban growth agreements was increased from 50 to 66 per cent. But the premise was that half of the 16 extra percent had to be used to reduce toll rates locally. Today’s government cancels the previous government’s demand for cuts in toll rates. Photo: Heidi Fjørtoft Klokk / news Canceling Solberg’s settlement After the change of government last year, this changed. In April, it emerged that the government wanted to cancel the Solberg government’s toll agreement. The contribution from the state was still to be 66 per cent, but the link to tolls was removed. The biggest public transport development in Bergen in the next few years is the light rail route from the city centre, via Bryggen, northwards to the Åsane district. Illustration: Michael Kloos planning and heritage consultancy Bergen City Council interprets this as meaning that the local toll rates may increase. City Development Council Thor Haakon Bakke (MDG) has told BT that if the toll settlement is reversed, the rates will be able to return to the level they were before 2020. Can increase toll rates So far, it has not been revealed what the lifting of the requirement will mean in actual funds for collective measures in the four city areas. In response to questions from news, the Ministry of Transport has drawn up this statement: Over the next seven years, Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim will together be able to reallocate NOK 3.7 billion. This money was earmarked to reduce tolls. Now they can rather go for measures for better public transport. – What determines whether this leads to an increase in tolls? – If local governing authorities want to change the use of the grant funds, it must be dealt with locally politically, the ministry wrote to news. After the local politicians have made a decision on this, the ministry proposes that the change be enshrined in previously entered into urban growth agreements. – The change means that local authorities will have greater freedom to adjust the toll rates. But it must be assessed in each individual case whether local changes to the toll system will require a new submission to the Storting. – We are working to get the details in place in this. The changes may apply from 2023, but this will depend on progress locally, according to the ministry. With the cost problem for the construction of the Fornebubanen (photo) and Oslo package 3, the municipality and the county have refused to cut the toll rates. Photo: Nicolas Tourrent The “Oslo dispute” Oslo and Viken have for a long time been “arguing” with the ministry about not reducing the toll rates, as the toll settlement demanded. In connection with the billion-dollar gap on the Fornebubanen and the funding problem for Oslo package 3, they have in practice looked away from the demand for a cut in tolls. The ministry writes that they are aware that Oslo and Viken have recently decided to use this entire subsidy to improve public transport.
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Big cities can get 3.7 billion for public transport investment because the government cancels demands for toll cuts – news Vestland
