Implementing the improbable urban road pricing scheme

Road pricing is a policy measure recommended by transport planners and economists, but considered infeasible by many due to political and public resistance. The Trondheim experience demonstrates how a crude road pricing scheme can be implemented in a moderately congested city while paying heed to democratic decision-making. Fair and democratic procedure requires that the planning include a responsive citizen participation process, that the political parties feed all the viewpoints of the main interest groups into the City Council decision-making, and that the public debate be open and admit all groups mass media coverage. Lessons from the Trondheim toll ring case are offered concerning (1) interests and coalition building, (2) pro and con arguments, (3) the viability of democratic procedure, (4) frequent forms of manipulation, and (5) main issues of design and revenue spending.