The challenge
Heavy rush-hour congestion in central Stockholm, with most of the public opposed to road tolls.
The case
From January to July 2006 Stockholm ran a full-scale trial of a congestion charge on vehicles crossing into the inner city, with fees that varied by time of day. Traffic across the cordon fell by about 20%, more than the 10–15% planners expected, and congestion eased over a wider area than the zone itself. Before the trial roughly 60–70% of the public opposed the charge. Once people saw the results, opinion shifted, and residents voted for it in a referendum on 17 September 2006. The charge became permanent in August 2007 and later won support from over two-thirds of residents.
Why it worked
Running a real trial before the vote let people see the benefits for themselves, which turned opposition into support. Time-varying prices targeted the trips that cause the worst congestion.
Sources
- Eliasson, J., Hultkrantz, L., Nerhagen, L. & Rosqvist, L.S. (2009). The Stockholm congestion-charging trial 2006: Overview of effects. Transportation Research Part A, 43(3), 240–250.
- Börjesson, M., Eliasson, J., Hugosson, M. B. & Brundell-Freij, K. (2012). The Stockholm congestion charges: 5 years on. Effects, acceptability and lessons learnt. Transport Policy, 20, 1–12.
- CBC News (2024). How one city learned to love congestion pricing.
Spot an error or know a better source? Tell us