Free Public Transport in Tallinn – a step toward green capital INTERMODES Brussels, By Allan Alaküla, Head of Tallinn EU Office Rue du Luxembourg 3, Brussels Skype allanala

Basic figures Population of Tallinn Total number of public transport vehicles (bus, tram, trolley-bus) : PT budget – 53 million € Total tickets revenue - 17 Mio € 5 Mio € from non-Tallinners Free PT for Tallinners costs 12 Mio € annually

22 Why we did it? Social aspects: providing mobility to unemployed and low income residents Economic aspects: increasing labour mobility in city limits; stimulating consumers activity; savings from public transport are spent for local goods and services; Green aspects: modal shift from cars to PT, cleaner air, less noise Fiscal aspects: strong motivation to register place of residence, thus increasing income tax

Plebiscite on free PT March, 2012 Plebiscite informed the community and involved them in decision- making, thus locking the free PT decision politically - power shift in Council cannot change it easily. Yes -75,5%, No - 24,5% 3 Allan Alaküla, Head of Tallinn EU Office In the beginning there was a referendum

Expanding exclusive bus lanes network Merger of two municipal public transport companies (June 2012) City Council decision on free PT (September 2012, enter ed into force 1 January 2013) Implementation of new contactless card (started in 2012 September) Signatuur või osakond Preparatory steps

New residents – population grew since by 6000 persons (1,5%) thus increasing municipal revenues from personal income tax Merger of two municipal public transport companies – considerable savings on operational costs Widening the paid parking area, raising parking tariffs 55 New sources of funding

Increased number of bus users 6%, incl new profiles of passengers on business days (see the picture), evenings and weekends (going out to spend free time and money) Decrease of the car traffic in the centre 15% Combined with impact of exclusive bus lanes. Signatuur või osakond 66 Initial progress report

With Aubagne (FR) and Hasselt (BE) initiating European Network of Free Public Transport to bring the issue into European agenda Developing contact with City of Chengdu which is testing FPT since Oct 2012 Tallinn FPT was listed among 30 most deserving urban innovations in Guangzhou International Award 77 International networking

Free Public Internet is often recognized as eveyone´s right. Now it is the turn of urban mobility. Discussions about free tap water, carbage collection etc may be ahead. 88 Looking forward!