Traffic volumes in Estonian capital down 10 pct in first month of free public transport

Photo: Kristjan Teedema

Traffic of non-public transport vehicles in the Estonian capital declined by more than 10 percent in January compared to December, data of the municipal transport board show.

In the fourth week of January the transport board measured traffic intensity at the Kristiine railway viaduct, a major intersection, at 66,495 vehicles per 24 hours, before the holiday period in December the figure was bigger by 7,597, departmental head with the board Talvo Ruutelmaa said. The figures include public transport vehicles the number of which has practically not changed, he said.

"Ordinary traffic has definitely decreased by at least 10 percent, which is actually a very good result," Ruutelmaa said. Analysis of traffic intensity will continue.

Preliminary counting data show a 10 percent increase in the number of public transport users, the city government said at the end of January.

Public transport routes are served by 482 vehicles in all, including 351 buses, 74 trolleybuses and 57 streetcars. "User numbers have grown considerably on several routes as a result of which service frequency and the number of vehicles had to be increased," Deputy Mayor Taavi Aas said. "Monitoring of traffic flows likewise proves that there are significantly fewer cars in the city center, which obviously suggests that many people have started using public transport instead of personal cars."

Since the beginning of this year public transport is free of charge for registered residents of Tallinn. In addition, all schoolchildren and students aged up to 19 listed in the population register as residents of Estonia enjoy free rides in Tallinn regardless of their place of residence. Public transport remains free also for all groups of the population regardless of their place of residence who enjoyed free rides previously.