Congestion charge planned for Hungary capital

The European Commission (EC) has urged authorities in the Hungarian capital Budapest to introduce the congestion charge in the city by 2015 at the latest or face EU legal sanctions, according to some press reports. Should the local authorities fail to take the step, the EC may launch an infringement procedure against Budapest. Thus, the city’s leaders would be obliged to repay EU funds worth €641.6 million (HUF 181bn) provided for building Budapest's Metro 4 underground line. Earlier this year, the Hungaria

Hungary is considering introducing a congestion charge scheme to capital Budapest at the end of 2016. The aim of the scheme is to cut congestion in the city, with traffic jams and delays frequent particularly in the historic centre. The scheme will also help generate revenue that will pay back EU funding worth some €565.2 million, which was used to pay for the construction of the M4 underground line in the city.

Hungary will spend just over €218 million (US$242 million) on road renovations this year, according to the State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of National Development. Laszlo Taso, head of infrastructure development within the ministry, made the announcement and said more than 500km of roads, both trunk and secondary, would be upgraded. Hungary announced in January that it is considering introducing a vehicle congestion charge scheme in the capital Budapest at the end of 2016. The scheme will he

Motorists in the Hungarian capital Budapest may have to pay a congestion charge from 2016, according to the city’s transport authority BKK. Public transport system improvements, prior to the possible introduction of the congestion charge, are due to be completed by 2015. Park-and-ride (P+R) facilities are expected to be set up by 2016.