What is the difference between an infrastructure charge and the congestion tax?
In Sweden infrastructure charges can only be charged for a newly built bridge, tunnel or mountain pass, for example, in order to cover the construction costs. If the bridge, tunnel or mountain pass has already been built using public money, under Swedish law no charges may be introduced at a later date.
Infrastructure charges are justified by the fact that the people who use the infrastructure are paying for it.
If the aim is to reduce congestion in Sweden's city areas, a congestion tax is used instead. Congestion taxes are justified by the fact that the people who are contributing towards congestion and environmental problems are paying for the costs to society this causes.