Austria will help the Czech Republic with the launch of electronic motorway coupons

"Like in Austria or Slovakia, the licence plate will be registered in an online shop, the motorway toll paid there and you can go. Several fixed or mobile cameras will provide system control. Experts from Asfinag will give advice what to pay attention to when preparing and launching the system," said Dan Ťok after the meeting.
 

The Austrian minister Norbert Hofer said that demand for electronic motorway coupons has been growing steadily in Austria, even when two thirds of drivers still use the traditional coupon because the system still allows this. The Czech model shall however use only digital coupons from 2021. The launch of the so-called videotolling will reduce annual costs by CZK 100 million. In 2017 the cost of printing and distribution of coupons reached CZK 314 million.
 

Both ministers were also talking about the modernisation of cross-border railway lines, a faster connection between Prague and Linz and preparation of contracts about the connection of the South-Bohemian D3 with the Austrian S10. They also discussed the construction of the border bridge between D52 by Mikulov and the A5 via the Včelínek/Niklasgraben creek.
 

The Austrian minister Hofer agreed with minister Ťok about the need for simplification and shortening of permission and approval proceedings for construction projects. The duration of all processes is up to 25 years in Austria as well. When building motorways, both countries are also facing such issues as sudden discovery of highly protected animal species and a sophisticated and lengthy environmental impact assessment process.