Express buses in the Stockholm congestion charging trial
Overview
Background & policy context:
The Stockholm Trial included three elements: congestion charge, reinforced public transport and more park & ride sites. The reinforcement of public transport (PT) has been carried on for a longer period than the congestion charge period, which was seven months in the first half year of 2006. The reinforced bus service started in autumn 2005 and ended at new year 2006/07, a test period of almost 1.5 years.
The most important PT reinforcement was the establishment of twelve new express bus routes from suburbs direct to the inner city of Stockholm. Feeder buses and rail normally serve the suburbs. The direct buses used fast motorways between the suburbs and the city.
Objectives:
The aim of the direct bus routes was to relieve the pressure on the train capacity and to present a high quality service to old and new PT passengers. The assumption was that most passengers on the direct buses would be former PT passengers and that most new PT travellers would go by rail.
Methodology:
The trafficability (accessibility and speed) was investigated by KTH by the means of two masters thesis. These show that travelling times decreased and average speeds increased significantly, but not on all test distances. The best values show about 10% shorter travelling times.
Four survey polls where made. The interviews where made before and during the congestion charge period. The interviews were further made both as home interviews, by Internet and on-board interviews, on paper.
- At-home Internet interviews spring 2005 in Skånska-Åkersberga and in Viksjö-Jakobsberg.
- At-home Internet interviews spring 2006 in the same areas.
- On-board interviews autumn 2005 on four direct bus routes and three parallel rail services.
- On-board interviews spring 2006 on the same routes .
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