Dear 99%,

We announce a strategy proposal for sustainable and affordable public transportation in four segments which was delivered to the Head Office of Public Transportation and Department of Transport of Belgrade.

1. PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW FINANCE MODEL FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
2. PROPOSAL FOR MODERNIZATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT
3. DEMAND FOR TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE COMPANY APEX (BUS PLUS)
4. DEMAND FOR COMITY IN PROCESSES OF MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND MODERNIZATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

1. PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW FINANCE MODEL FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

We propose implementation of Transport Tax to all companies and institutes, instead of overpriced and financially un appropriate tariff system and ticket control.

With the introduction of Transport Tax all companies and institutes would be obligated to pay a monthly fee to all employees directly into the Public Transportation Fund, publicly runed. This way we are eliminating the need to subsidize public transportation from the budget. The pricing of Transport Tax would be estimated based on the real expenses of public transportation after detailed analysis of Public Transportation(GSP) management and practices.

CURRENT SITUATION IS AS FOLLOWS: Annual expenses of Public Transportation(GSP) are RSD19 Bilions (€160 milions), and the City of Belgrade employs around 550.000 citizens. If we divide the amount needed to cover all expenses of Public Transportation(GSP) to the number of all employees, starting January 1^st 2015, all companies and institutes could pay RSD 2.879,00 (23€) - per month per employee directly to the publicly runed Public Transportation Fund.

This way of financing eliminates any tariff system and ticket control in Public Transportation(GSP). Employers would pay the employees for the services of Public Transportation(GSP), and everyone else, including members of their families, students, unemployed and retired citizens as well as tourists would be able to use Public Transportation(GSP) absolutely free, with no limits of any kind.

Besides gaining a stabile sources of finances for Public Transportation(GSP) and socially more just tariff system that stimulates citizens to use it, the financing from the budget would be completely removed from the equation, the need for using cars would be reduced as well as the consequences of overuses of cars in urban areas, parking spaces(Dresden Institute for Ecology and Traffic and Belgrade Traffic University estimates annual expenses between 1 billion and 1.5 billion euro for over usage of cars in urban areas), allowing us to finance more Public Transportation(GSP) vehicles.

This would be a great step towards improvement of general standard of living for citizens especially those with the lowest standard of living.

This measure would be a great enticement for the development of tourism in Belgrade and also an economic stimulation due to increased spending power.

Note: An estimated 200.000 citizens are illegally employed in the City of Belgrade. Introducing those citizens in legal employment would reduce the amount needed for monthly Transportation Tax to RSD 2100,00. Termination of all harmful contracts in Public Transportation(GSP) would reduce expenses by (RSD 3-4 billion) € 25-30 milion annually. Implementing recycling centers for manufacturing CNG out of organic communal and organic industrial waste, we can reduce for extra € 50 milions.

2. PROPOSAL FOR MODERNIZATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

We propose the renewal of full rights and statuses for Public Transportation(GSP) and investment in equipping vehicles with CNG(bio methane gas). CNG would be produced through processes of recycling organic waste, thus reducing fuel expenses for around €50.000.000.00- in the first few years. Those cost cuts would be used in paying of credits needed to build recycling plants. After that fuel expenses would reduce even more.

This way we can reduce direct expenses of over € 200.000.000.00- annually, created by outdated and health and environment hazardous practices and management of communal and industrial waste. Services of Urban Maintenance and Urban Greens would then be transformed into profit makers and significantly improve their services regarding health and environment.

Smart sustainable planning of organic communal garbage and organic industrial waste, can create heat for homes in the City of Belgrade using remote heating systems, and the bi-product of this process is natural fertilizer, one of the pre conditions for the development of healthy & susteinable organic agro-culture. This way we can significantly support and entice the ever increasing demand for organic food and employment opportunities in organic agro-culture.

3. DEMAND FOR TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE COMPANY APEX (BUS PLUS)

Again we repeat the importance of terminating all financially damaging contracts with a private company APEX(BUS PLUS), that has won a suspicious legal tender on monopoly of ticket sales in Public Transportation(GSP), directly damaging the citizens of Belgrade and its City Council budget for officialy almost €10 millions- annually, disabling financially jeopardized citizens the right to move freely and indirectly damaging other basic rights and needs.

We also demand that the case of making financially damaging contracts with private company APEX(BUS PLUS), is publically questioned and that persons responsible for accepting these contracts should face trial for moral and legal implications, as well as financial retaliation by law officials.

4. DEMAND FOR COMITY IN PROCESSES OF MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND MODERNIZATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

We demand for a comity to be formed by the employees in Ministry of Transport, Department of Public Transportation, other city Departments, public experts and representatives of citizens iniciatives, that will work towards development planning, management and modernization of public transport on a completely transparent and inclusive way.

Author: Citizens iniciative ‘99%’ – Workgroup for Sustainable and Free Public Transportation