Road Pricing Updates 2010
from Germany and Europe
I. Germany > Toll Collect / Discussion on extension
II. Europe > Country News
III. EU > “Eurovignette III”
TRB Congestion Pricing Committee
Washington Hilton
January 26, 2011
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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I. Germany > Toll Collect
System still works without any problems; development of tolled km
and toll income influenced by worldwide economic crisis; substantial
increase of the share of “clean trucks” on the tolled network.
share of emission classes Jan. 2005
Source: Toll Collect GmbH
Euro 5 EEV 1 >
0.2%
Euro 0 + 1 >
3.7%
Euro 4 > 0.9%
Euro 2 > 32.8%
Toll Collect: tolled km - toll income
30
5
27.4
25
27.6
25.8
4.41
24.4
23.9
3.36
20
4.15
23.8
3.47
Euro 3 > 62.4%
3.08
3
2.87
bn Euro
bn km
4
15
tolled km
toll income
10
share of emission classes Oct. 2010
2
Euro 0 + 1 >
0.3%
1
5
Euro 2 > 2.1%
Euro 3 > 26.3%
0
0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010, Nov. 31
year
Euro 5, EEV 1 >
61.1%
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
Euro 4 > 10.2%
2
Germany > Discussion on extension
Permanent discussion regarding pro and
contra an extension of road user charges to all
types of vehicles and all roads.
Recommendations of the “PällmannCommission“ regarding a systematic
paradigm-shift to user charges as well as the
“Call to action” based on the publication “10
years Pällmann-Commission” are frequently
quoted.
April 2010: German “Agency for the
Environment” published an “appraisal” of
a comprehensive introduction of VMT
based charging of cars on all roads; the
agency urgently recommends it.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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June 2010: “German Triple A” (ADAC) published its “appraisal”
of the same subject, based on a remarkable version of a costbenefit hocus-pocus.
Result: severe economic damages for the whole country.
September 2010: Vice-president of the German Research
Society on Roads and Transport: “The traditional tax financing
of the roads is no longer appropriate; a shift from the tax based
financing to a user-based financing is urgently needed”.
Most politician and representatives of lobbyist-organisations
admit having two opinions regarding the direct user financing of
roads: > official: against ! > unofficial: in favor !
The actual perspective of financing the road infrastructure
is characterized by speakers of all political parties as a “black
hole”.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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The last two strong winters made the
consequences of a latent neglect of
road maintenance more than clear.
The extension of road user
charging is continuously stated by the
government to be “not on the agenda”
for the actual legislative period;
nevertheless the topic remains on the
agenda of the public discussion.
Congestion pricing in metropolitan
areas / city-tolling is still frequently
discussed, but not yet in a stage close to
an implementation in any German city.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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II. Europe > Country News 2010
Road charging of
trucks in the EU –
current situation
Source: EU Directorate for
Mobility and Transport 2010
Actualization for some countries
on the following charts
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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Countries in alphabetical order
Belgium: Planned to join the project in The Netherlands; now
planning VMT-based charging of heavy goods vehicles and (timerelated) electronic vignettes for cars using the main road-network;
start from 2013 onwards (first HGV, later vignettes for cars).
Czech Republic: Considered an extension of the VMT-based
charging of heavy goods vehicles on main road network to cars
as well as to secondary and tertiary roads for 2011/2012; plans
have been postponed.
Denmark: In fall it was decided on a prequalification for
implementing a VMT-based charging system for heavy goods
vehicle using main road-network; plans were put on ice after the
project in The Netherlands has been stopped.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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France: Preparations for extending the VMT-based charging of
heavy goods vehicles (≥ 3.5 tons) to main roads other than tollroads in 2012 / 2013; trials will start in the Alsace region later this
year;
the charges are named eco-tax; the revenue is announced to be
used exclusively for “alternative transport infrastructures”.
In June 2010 the French parliament accepted a law allowing all
cities with more than 300.000 inhabitants to introduce congestion
pricing - provided, they have a good public transit system.
Hungary: Plans / Considerations for changing from time-related
electronic vignettes for all kind of vehicles using main roads to
VMT-based charges are underway; realization frequently delayed.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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Poland: Introduction of VMT-based charges for heavy goodsvehicle (≥ 3.5 tons) using national roads scheduled for July 1,
2011.
Portugal: Gradually switch underway from shadow-tolls to VMTbased charges for all kind of vehicles using express-ways.
Slovakia: Introduction of VMT-based charging of heavy goods
vehicle (≥ 3.5 tons) using main roads started on January 2010.
The Netherlands: Project of a comprehensive paradigm-shift to
user financing the road-infrastructure based on distance- and
strain-related charges for all vehicles on all roads was cancelled
by the new government.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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UK: The Royal Automobile Club
Foundation published a study
“Governing and Paying for England’s
Roads”; “preferred solution” variable
tolls for all types of cars and trucks on
all roads.
I recommend the study as common
platform for all stakeholders regarding
the discussion about the future of
financing and governing the roadinfrastructure.
There are indications for the introduction
of time-based vignettes for heavy goods
vehicles in the next years.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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III. Eurovignette III
“Implementation of the polluter pays principle”
Eurovignette: “Directive of the European Parliament and of the
Council on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of
certain Infrastructure.”
The directive in force (Eurovignette II) authorizes, but does
not oblige, Member States to levy “user charges” (time based) or
“tolls” (distance / strain based) on heavy goods vehicles with a
maximum laden weight of 3.5 tons and more …
… provided that it does not result in any discrimination and that
the charges are set at a level which does not exceed the recovery
of costs which are necessary to maintain and replace the road
infrastructure > direct / internal costs.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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October 15, 2010: The Ministers of Transportation of the EU
Member States voted in favor of new rules to allow Member States
to levy additional charges to cover costs of air and noise
pollution and to better manage problems of congestion.
Agreement:
No obligation to earmark revenues generated by the tolls for projects
in the transportation sector but a mere recommendation to do so
(original proposal: strict earmarking).
No specific levy on congestion
(original proposal: introduction of additional charges based on
congestion related external costs).
Allowance of a rate of variation up to 175 %
(existing directive: up to 100%, proposals: up to 500 %)
limited to 5 hours per day (proposals: up to 8 hours).
Member States may exempt vehicles under 12 tons maximum laden
weight from tolls if they consider this necessary
(original proposal: no exemption).
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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Agreement is a compromise on
the compromise-proposal of the
Belgium EU-Presidency regarding
the original proposal of the EUadministration based on the
“Greening Transport Package”.
“EU deal on green road toll leaves
few happy.”
The final decision is up to the
European Parliament;
it is expected for this year.
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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Thank You
Dr.Eng. Andreas Kossak
AK Research & Consulting
Moorweg 6
D – 22453 Hamburg
Phone: +49 (0)40 553 24 58
Fax:
+49 (0)40 553 65 59
E-Mail: DrKossak@aol.com
Dr. Andreas Kossak, Hamburg, D
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