MPs will have say on extra rush hour tax

Friday 27 November 2009

MPs will have the final say on whether or not to introduce an extra charge for drivers using busy roads in the rush hour, transport minister Camiel Eurlings told parliament on Thursday evening.

The rush hour tax is set to come on top of the nationwide kilometer tax which the government plans to introduce for all motorists from 2012.

During the debate, Eurlings said localised rush hour charges are an integral part of the kilometer tax plan which would lead to maximum traffic flow.

Once the rush hour tax has been established and raises €300m, the general kilometer charge will be reduced, he said.

The kilometer tax itself is earmarked to raise €6.6bn a year and it will cost €4bn to implement, according to transport ministry figures.

'I think it is a fair plan, otherwise I would not be bringing it in,' Eurlings said.

At the moment only one rush hour tax is on the cards - an extra charge on motorists using Amsterdam's ring road at peak periods. But other local authorities are keen to bring in their own charges.

Eurlings assured MPs that the calculations underpinning the new tax have been worked out with great care and show it will lead to a 15% reduction in cars on the road.

© DutchNews.nl

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