– For Kvinnherad, this is as dramatic as 9 April, says mayor Vegard Bjørnevik (H). On Wednesday, the administration in Vestland proposed a series of cuts to reduce public transport costs. Kvinnherad comes out badly, where the proposal is to cut one of two ferries on two of the connections to and from Kvinnherad. Halving the ferry service means, among other things, fewer ferries to Stord, which is an important hub in the region. The detour is long and prone to landslides. – We are terribly dependent on these ferry connections. There is no reduction in the offer. It is simply a complete halving. It is not acceptable, says Bjørnevik. It is proposed to shut down the operation of MF Sildafjord at Gjermundshamn – Varaldsøy–Årsnes, and MF Hillefjord at Ranavik–Skjersholmane. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news – Very dramatic According to a survey carried out by KS, the county councils lack NOK 700 million to maintain current public transport services. Several county councils will probably have to make drastic cuts in bus, boat and railway services. KS on public transport All the county councils, apart from Oslo, were included in the survey. Rogaland has around NOK 95 million too little to operate public transport. In Møre og Romsdal, the ferry service must be cut sharply to bring it in line with what the state actually pays for the ferry operation. According to a calculation from the transport department, 70-80 departures on weekdays must be removed in the county. Østfold County Council will save around NOK 66 million in transport over the next three years. The figures were presented to the municipal minister at a crisis meeting. It was the newspaper Grenda that first wrote about Bjørnevik’s powerful plan. – April 9, you use big words. It is a statement that could potentially lead to reactions. What would you say to that? – It is clear that it has to be brought to the fore, but for our municipality I think it is serious and very dramatic if it comes into effect, for our living conditions and for mobility both internally and outside the municipality, says Bjørnevik. Both municipalities and county councils are struggling financially. KS calls the situation serious. Vestland county had therefore hoped that the government would finance more of the public transport services. – This is a dramatic situation, and not a situation we want to be in, says county director Rune Haugsdal in Vestland. Two ferry connections in and around Kvinnherad may have the offer reduced from two to one ferry. – If there are consequences, Vestland county lacks NOK 130 million to maintain the current offer. County mayor Jon Askeland (Sp) says that it has become more expensive to run ferries and public transport, but that the county does not receive money from the state in line with the increased costs. – The growth in costs is far greater than the growth in discretionary income. We need more money to avoid cuts in public transport or increasing ticket prices, says Askeland. According to the government’s calculations, Norway is only halfway to its climate targets, and according to the Norwegian Environment Agency, public transport is among the most effective measures for reaching national climate targets. In Bergen in particular, cuts in public transport will be at odds with the zero-growth target, Askeland believes. – At the same time, no island community will accept that the ferry stops running in the early afternoon. It has consequences for people and businesses. Vestland County Council will remove discount schemes, increase the price of monthly passes and change the zone structure in the Bergen area. Several ferry routes may be cut or reduced. Photo: Brynjar Myrtveit Osgjerd Believes other measures will be meaningless Several measures from the government will make the least central municipalities more attractive. Former students can have parts of their student loans written off if they live outside the centre, and the maximum price for daycare centers is lower in the district municipalities. Bjørnevik believes the measures will be meaningless without public transport. – There are no other measures that help when mobility is so impaired. – It is disappointing that a government, which claims to be a district government, turns out to be one of the most anti-district there is, as they are unable to compensate the expenses the ferry has incurred for the county. Mayor of Ullensvang municipality, Roald Aga Haug, thinks they are being hit unreasonably hard. Photo: Tale Hauso / news Mayor of Ullensvang municipality, Roald Aga Haug, also reacts. The cut proposal will lead to the entire connection between Kinsarvik and Utne being shut down. – This is the biggest cut, as far as I can see, in perhaps the smallest region with the worst roads, and really the worst public transport. Published 17.10.2024, at 18.24
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– Just as dramatic as 9 April – news Vestland
