New toll rings around six cities and towns in Akershus. It is one of the measures being outlined. One of the cities is Lillestrøm, where Kjartan Berland is the new Conservative mayor. – It’s not something I sit around shouting hallelujah to. I am negative about that as it is outlined here. But I register that it lies in a knowledge base, says Berland. He is talking about a report that Norconsult has prepared for the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. It is not public, but news has gained access to it. NO TO BOMRING: Lillestrøm mayor Kjartan Berland (H). Photo: Olav Juven / news Strong car growth One of the conclusions gives the politicians a serious headache: if nothing drastic is done, car traffic in Oslo and Akershus will increase by 17 percent until 2040. The reason is the population growth that is expected in the Oslo area. It will be completely contrary to the zero growth target. It is that the growth in passenger transport must be taken up by public transport, cycling and walking. According to the report, possible measures to achieve the goal are these: Car restrictions Road pricing Double the rate in today’s toll ring in Oslo Toll ring around regional towns in Akershus: Asker, Sandvika, Ski, Ås, Lillestrøm and Jessheim 10 percent lower speed on all roads in Oslo and in the regional towns Double price of parking in Oslo and in the regional cities. Paid parking where it is free today Less access to parking at home in Oslo and in the regional cities Better public transport The bus will arrive faster Many more bus departures The same ticket price throughout Oslo and Akershus Simplified zone system and cheaper tickets in Oslo and Akershus Focus on micro-mobility Better provision for bicycles Increased use of micro-mobility (e.g. electric scooters) to make walking faster Oslo package 3 The report will be the basis for the Oslo package 3 negotiations which start in the new year. Here, the state and politicians from Oslo and Akershus will once again agree on new toll rates. And just as important: Which road and public transport measures should the tolls and transport billions from the state be spent on? – Burdens for the population COUNTY COUNCIL LEADER: Anette Solli (H) is chief executive in new Akershus county. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news County council leader Anette Solli (R) is Akershus’ chief negotiator. She says that the parties must discuss the report in detail and what it means when the negotiations start. However, she notes that the increase in traffic is due to population growth. – I think it is important to make real assessments of what burdens we can impose on our population as a result of people choosing to move here, says Solli. – The pollution up Environment and Transport Council Marit Kristine Vea (V) will lead the negotiations from Oslo’s side. – If we don’t take action, we risk that car traffic, pollution and greenhouse gases will increase, she says. WILL TAKE ACTION: But environment and transport councilor Marit Kristine Vea (V) cannot yet say which ones. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news She cannot yet say which of the measures it is appropriate to proceed with. – Probably, or certainly not the most far-reaching proposals. But this is very interesting and something we need to look at much more closely to create a good package overall. – So you can’t imagine a doubling of toll rates? – No, I can’t imagine it now, says Vea. Measures she highlights are to make it easier and cheaper to travel by public transport, make even better arrangements for cycling and walking and ensure more car sharing. – We can’t just bet on people buying electric cars either. That could lead to increased car use, she says. Reconstruction of motorways Her predecessor Sirin Stav (MDG) is also advocating to make it cheaper and easier to travel by public transport and to step up the investment in cycling and walking even more. Stav says that the announced increase in traffic is very serious and will lead to Cork and chaos. That is why she also wants car restrictions: VERY SERIOUS: A large increase in traffic will cause more noise, pollution and unsafe school roads, says Sirin Stav (MDG). Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB – At the same time, we must invest even more in converting motorways into city streets, reducing speed limits and increasing tolls, says Stav. She says that the MDG has no target for the number of kroner the rates should be. Stav also highlights the spatial policy and where the municipalities around Oslo place housing and workplaces. Collective hubs In the greater municipality of Lillestrøm, mayor Kjartan Berland acknowledges his responsibility to help reduce car traffic. He says that development around the public transport hubs both in Lillestrøm city and other local communities is laid down in the municipality’s spatial plans. – We must also make it more attractive to choose other means of transport. Then public transport, cycling and walking are important measures. – I think we as a municipality, county and state have not come far enough. We have not managed to make it attractive enough and developed well enough, says the Conservative mayor.
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Double toll price in Oslo and six new toll rings in Akershus – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
