In the morning rush hour in Ålesund, Roar Pedersen is on his way to work. For years it has been free to drive into the city centre, but now it is over. Ålesund has received a city package, and motorists must help pay the price. – It is very sad. This is a gray weather day in every way. We have fought against this, but now it is happening, says Pedersen, who has become involved in the fight against tolls. From today, Roar Pedersen must pay tolls when he drives to and from work. Photo: Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen / news The price of the work trip has quadrupled According to the Institute of Transport Economics, the overall toll burden in Norway has increased sharply. – There have been many more toll stations, and thus many more people have to pay, says research leader Askill Harkjerr Halse. Households where tolls are an expense have increased from 28 to 44 percent from 2005 to 2019. For someone who drives a car to and from work in the metropolitan areas of Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger, toll expenses have quadrupled since 2005 to 2019. That is many times more than the price increase elsewhere in society. – I don’t think anything of that at all, says Olle Johnny Alkvist, who drives a car in the Oslo area every day. He spends around NOK 1,500 in tolls a month. Olle Johnny Alkvist smiles at the photographer, but is not satisfied that the tolls are increasing. Photo: Kjartan Rørslett / news A new report from TØI shows that tolls on work journeys have increased from around NOK 4.50 to NOK 20 in the last 14 years. – A more attractive city Both the majority of the politicians in Ålesund, the county politicians in Møre and Romsdal and the politicians in the Storting decided that Ålesund should get a city package. This is the city package in Ålesund The financial framework for the city package in Ålesund is NOK 4 billion, distributed among these projects: New access road on E136, Breivika-Lerstad (NOK 2 billion) Between Blindheim and Flisnes, new footpath, cycle path. (300 million) New Brosund Bridge (280 million) Street terminal in the center (80 million) Collective hub at Ålesund Hospital (50 million) and Campus Ålesund (200 million) Measures for public transport, walking and cycling and traffic safety (280 million) Toll stations (40 million) Financing is through tolls (3.3 billion from passing cars). The remaining amount is paid by the state, the county council and the municipality. If you have an Autopass agreement, you have to pay NOK 20.80 for a toll pass. In the next hour, all other toll crossings are free. Electric cars and hydrogen cars pay half price. Local politician Tore Johan Øvstebø (KrF) believes that the city package makes Ålesund a more attractive city. Tore Johan Øvstebø (KrF) believes that people who live in Ålesund get a lot for their money. Photo: ØYVIND SANDNES / news – I think this is a good day. This is important for urban development in Ålesund. One could perhaps say that tolls are not attractive. But what we get in return for the tolls will make Ålesund a more attractive city. Asking for a new assessment In September this year and in 2024, a sharp price increase has been announced in the toll ring in Oslo. 15 new toll projects in other parts of the country have been approved, but collection had not yet begun in June. Now the Norwegian Automobile Association (NAF) is asking the politicians to reassess the entire toll policy. – We believe that the brakes must be put on the toll project and that no new projects with tolls should be introduced. It is a simple way for the politicians to reduce the tax burden on people, says Ingunn Handagard, press manager at NAF. – Tolls hit those who have little from before the hardest, says Ingunn Handagard in NAF. Photo: news Kjartan Rørslett My family with small children gets burned The opposition to introducing tolls has been strong and long-lasting in Ålesund. Geir Stenseth (Frp) has fought against tolls for as long as he has been a politician. She thinks this will sting financially for several people. – This will first and foremost affect families with small children, who will see a sharp increase in costs. Look at the situation we have found ourselves in now. We have the highest price increase in 30 years, and then we get this here as well. Geir Stenseth (Frp) thinks it is a bad day for those who live in Ålesund. Photo: Trond Vestre / news – Unsocial framework NAF believes that the users pay a disproportionately large part of the expenses, and that the state should pick up a larger part of the bill. – When we see how anti-social the tolls are, it is important that we have a discussion about how this system works, says Handagard and points, among other things, to the advantages of electric cars. Someone with a high income pays a smaller part of their income to drive through the barrier than someone with a low income. According to the Institute of Transport Economics, this has in practice particularly helped those with medium or higher incomes. – Electric cars have been for people with medium or high incomes. They have then adapted so that they largely avoided the increase in tolls. In the future, this will gradually change because the benefits of electric cars will probably be phased out. In addition, more used electric cars will be available to those with a lower income, says project manager Halse. Traffic flowed apparently as normal during the morning rush hour in Ålesund, even though the collection of tolls is underway. Photo: Remi Sagen / news
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Introduces tolls to finance the city package in Ålesund – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
