A leading figure in the German Landkreistage, Achim Brötel, has expressed support for the introduction of a vehicle toll to fund highways and bridges.
Brötel, the president of the German Landkreistage, emphasized the need for a fair distribution of the financial burden, stating that it is not possible to solely rely on future generations to finance infrastructure projects. He believes that the current generation, including those who own smaller and lighter vehicles, should also contribute to the funding of infrastructure projects.
The debate surrounding the introduction of a vehicle toll is not new and the German Landkreistage’s president is not the only one to have expressed support for the idea. The topic has been discussed in the context of the German government’s plans to finance infrastructure projects, particularly in the context of the country’s climate protection efforts.
The German Automobile Club (ADAC) has also weighed in on the issue, with its spokesperson, Andreas Hoelzl, stating that the organization is open to the idea of a vehicle toll, but only if it is implemented in the future and not as a means of increasing revenue in the short term. The ADAC is concerned about the potential impact of a vehicle toll on consumers, particularly in light of the upcoming introduction of the European CO2 price in 2027.
In addition to the debate surrounding the vehicle toll, the ADAC has also expressed concerns about the German government’s plans to fund infrastructure projects, warning that the government should not rely solely on the “Sondervermögen” (a special fund) and instead should prioritize the allocation of funds from the federal budget to ensure the long-term financing of infrastructure projects.