Overview
Following the mandate from the Federal Council dated 20 October 1982 the Department of Transport, Communications and Energy, Transport Policy Section (formerly the Study Service of transport or SET) of the Federal Office Spatial Development (ARE) regularly calculate external costs of transport.
According to Art. 7 al. 3 of the Federal Law of 19 December 1997 concerning a levy on heavy goods traffic related to benefits, "the external costs and benefits of HGV traffic will be maintained regularly. These accounts will be based on the state of scientific knowledge." An update of external costs caused to buildings by public transport is necessary for 2000.
The purpose of the study is to determine the external costs of road and rail transport in terms of damage of buildings for 2000 throughout Switzerland.
The monetary valuation of non-covered damage of buildings caused by transport promotes transparency of costs. It also provides a basis for internalisation of external costs thus meeting the ecological and economic aspects of the principle of sustainable development that currently governs the Swiss transport policy. The results will justify the increase in heavy vehicle fee related to benefits provided in 2005.
Funding
Results
The monetary valuation of non-covered damage of buildings caused by transport - basis for internalisation of external costs.
Innovation aspects
The project results set the monetary value of buildings damage.
Policy implications
The results will justify the increase in heavy vehicle fee related to benefits provided in 2005.
Strategy targets
Internalisation of external costs - meeting the ecological and economic aspects of the principle of sustainable development.
Readiness
The results were used for justification of the increase in heavy vehicle fee related to benefits provided in 2005.