Flemish nationalist N-VA, socialist Vooruit and Christian democrat CD&V have reached a coalition agreement for a new Flemish government. VRT News has been given access to the substance of the accord. Widening of the Brussels orbital is to continue while there are changes to e-charging station options.
Good mobility contributes to our prosperity and must be available to everyone. That’s the motto of the new Flemish government. Resources are being freed up for ‘safe and smooth mobility throughout Flanders’ and ‘for sustainable and high-performance public transport, also in rural regions’.
‘Substantial investments in tram and bus services’ are planned.
The fleet of Flemish public transport company De Lijn is to become greener and more modern. ‘This will ensure higher passenger comfort, contribute to a sustainable shift in favour of public transport and achieve climate targets.’
Public transport flows will be improved ‘by focusing on more bus lanes, separate lanes for buses and trams and smart traffic lights’. Government parties want to see more punctuality and higher passenger satisfaction. More accessible stops for people with disabilities will be created more quickly.
Fare-dodgers face more checks on De Lijn and the collection of fines will be optimised. Aggression on public transport will be dealt with strictly. The Flemish government intends to apply absolute zero tolerance.
On the roads
The Flemish government will continue work to widen the orbital ring road around Brussels - even though there is as yet no agreement with the Brussels Region.
A driving licence with penalty points is being discussed by federal negotiators. The Flemish government already operates a system that allows administrative ‘GAS fines’ (for minor traffic offences which are determined by the municipalities, e.g. speed fines resulting from average speed camera checks) to be linked to a penalty point driving licence system.
Getting lorries out of the jams
Talks are planned with the haulage sector on ‘the conditions under which the kilometre charge for trucks can be optimised to avoid tailbacks, congestion and a shift from truck to light goods transport’. This means increasing the kilometre charge is being considered as well as extending it to vans.
Flanders also wants to make night transports cheaper thanks to lower tariffs.
More parking areas for trucks are required to ensure drivers no longer have to park on and next to motorways or along smaller roads at night.
The government believes that policy on charging stations for electric cars is ‘too fragmented’ at the moment. ‘Strategically placed smart charging plazas in (semi-)public locations’ are the new priority. Sites can include supermarket car parks.