ARENA 3
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | NetPort Science Park Karlshamn AB (svb) - NetPort Karlshamn Aktiebolag (svb) |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 3 000 000 |
| Project duration | September 2011 - September 2014 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
ARENA as Swedish knowledge platform aims at supporting the development of the European integrated solutions for road user charges. During ARENA 3, the project has acted neutral meeting point for stakeholders in the area and diligently worked for the development of interoperable, efficient and user-friendly solutions for both freight and passenger transports. ARENA has also taken as its task to develop skills and propose solutions to problems not previously solved at EU level, such as privacy issue and enforcement in a European context.
Results and expected effects
ARENA has greatly contributed to the establishment of a strategic and strong research & innovation center focusing on user charging and ITS with its base in Blekinge. The research & innovation center has a strong national and international network of expertise and stakeholders linked to it. ARENA continues to build knowledge of how interoperable, efficient and user-friendly electronic fee collection systems can be designed, which will be of great value and importance when decisions on a wider use of user charging will be taken.
Approach and implementation
So far and since 2006, ARENA has gone through three phases. During this period, congestion charging has been introduced and some decisions on infrastructure charges taken, but the issue of distance-based road pricing has been highly polarized and off the governmental agenda. The focus of ARENA has been on long-term capacity building. The balance and preparedness for the future have contributed to some ambiguity. In the Swedish road pricing landscape ARENA, despite its status as a project, has largely accounted for the continuity and thus secured the skills for future needs.