Poll: Majority of Stockholm residents to say "yes" to congestion fees

The tolls were hotly contested when the trial started in January, with polls showing most people thought it was a bad idea.

Photo: Poll: Majority of Stockholm residents to say "yes" to congestion fees

Poll: Majority of Stockholm residents to say

But public opinion has since swung in favor of the congestion charges, designed to cut pollution in the city, with 62 percent of Stockholmers saying they will vote "yes" to making the system permanent in a September referendum, research agency Sifo said.

The poll was commissioned by Sweden's Green Party, a strong advocate of the congestion charges.

Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 30 percent would vote "no" to the traffic tolls, while the rest were undecided.

Depending on the time of day, Stockholm drivers have to pay between 10 kronor and 20 kronor, or about Ђ1-Ђ2, when they enter or exit the city's center. The toll is in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. every weekday. There is no fee on weekends, holidays or at night, the AP reports.

The tolls have helped reduce traffic coming in and out of central Stockholm by 23 percent, according to the city government, exceeding the initial goal of 15 percent.