Impact studies SmartMove
20064 / 20089
From 2020 to 2022
The Brussels government is working on the implementation of SmartMove, a smart mileage charge that taxes vehicle use rather than ownership, with rates varying according to time of day and motorisation. TML supported this implementation as a member of the Motivity consortium by conducting impact studies, including analyses of urban toll systems and the TREMOVE model.
The Brussels Government is working on the city of the future. As the capital of Belgium and Europe, it must be one with better air quality, smoother mobility, and taxation that is simpler, fairer, and more favourable. With the introduction of SmartMove, the Brussels government is implementing the tax reform laid down in the 2019 coalition agreement: a taxation system that no longer starts from the ownership of the car, but from its use. This smart road pricing considers both the number of kilometres driven and the time of travel. For example, a driver will pay more during peak hours and less during off-peak hours, evenings, nights, or weekends. The social dimension is also taken into account, with the rate varying depending on the vehicle's motorisation.
As a member of the Motivity consortium, TML supported the Brussels Government with the implementation of impact studies. This involved highlighting the following components in more detail:
The initial studies for SmartMove predicted that it is feasible to obtain 12% fewer kilometres driven during an average working day, 18% fewer during evening rush hour, and a total of 30% less time lost in traffic jams.
The Brussels Government is working on the city of the future. As the capital of Belgium and Europe, it must be one with better air quality, smoother mobility, and taxation that is simpler, fairer, and more favourable. With the introduction of SmartMove, the Brussels government is implementing the tax reform laid down in the 2019 coalition agreement: a taxation system that no longer starts from the ownership of the car, but from its use. This smart road pricing considers both the number of kilometres driven and the time of travel. For example, a driver will pay more during peak hours and less during off-peak hours, evenings, nights, or weekends. The social dimension is also taken into account, with the rate varying depending on the vehicle's motorisation.
As a member of the Motivity consortium, TML supported the Brussels Government with the implementation of impact studies. This involved highlighting the following components in more detail:
- An overview of urban and GPS toll systems in operation worldwide.
- The data sources used for the mobility analyses.
- The simulations with the TREMOVE model used to calculate the impact on mobility.
- The expected number of occasional users and pricing strategy for this.
- A literature review and context of the expected socio-economic impact of tolls and of the context in the BCR.
- The social impact analysis.
- The economic impact analysis.
- The impacts on emissions, accidents, and active modes, with associated external costs.
The initial studies for SmartMove predicted that it is feasible to obtain 12% fewer kilometres driven during an average working day, 18% fewer during evening rush hour, and a total of 30% less time lost in traffic jams.
