Free Quzhou Expressway, Free Accommodation in Suzhou and Hangzhou, Free Subway in Nantong and Ningbo... Jiangsu and Zhejiang People Love to Do Foolish Things License | Citizen | Suzhou and Hangzhou
Starting from yesterday, Zhejiang H license plate Class 1 buses using electronic non-stop toll accounting cards will pass free of charge between 13 highway toll stations in the county and urban areas of Quzhou City. Upon opening the map, it can be observed that after the implementation of the policy, vehicles that meet the requirements do not need to incur additional tolls on the highways between various counties and districts in Quzhou. When it comes to free, people always like to keep track of their expenses. How much can citizens save after the implementation of this policy? According to the differentiated toll collection policy of Quzhou Expressway, the expressway from the city level to the county and urban area is the main beneficiary section. The distance from the city center of Quzhou to the nearest county seat of Longyou is about 30 kilometers, and the one-way highway cost about 20 yuan. The distance to the farthest county seat of Kaihua is about 60 kilometers, and the one-way highway cost about 30 yuan. Between trips, citizens who commute between two places daily for work can save hundreds of yuan per week. This cost is actually borne by the finance department of Quzhou City, and the essence of being free is that the government has purchased tolls for the people. The toll collection rights of highways are clearly defined in advance by the commercial contract signed between the highway construction company and the local government. The government pays the bill, and car owners can pass through each toll station for free. According to the experience of Jiashan County in Zhejiang Province, at the end of 2020, Jiashan implemented a free passage policy for Class I passenger cars with Zhejiang F license plates, increasing the daily traffic volume from 1244 to 3940 vehicles and exempting a monthly fee of approximately 1.28 million yuan. Obviously, for local finance, the pressure will increase significantly after the free passage of highways in the county and urban areas of Quzhou City. So, what does Quzhou want to exchange this investment for? In 2023, the Quzhou Municipal Government's work report proposed to promote toll free access for Quzhou licensed small buses in the city, county, and urban areas, and to implement the "Qucheng Smooth Traffic" project of integrating highways and cities. The relevant person in charge of Quzhou Transportation Bureau stated that Quzhou has achieved county to county high-speed transportation, but the advantage of "high-speed" is not clearly demonstrated due to insufficient charging. Currently, commuting between cities and counties has become the norm for many Quzhou citizens, and communication and exchange between different districts are becoming increasingly frequent. This policy is of great significance for accelerating the integrated development of cities and counties. Free passage within the highway area is not uncommon in various parts of Zhejiang. For example, in order to solve the problem of integration into the main city, multiple expressways from Yuhang and Linping to the downtown area of Hangzhou have implemented free policies; In order to improve the energy level of the central urban area, vehicles that meet the requirements for commuting between Huzhou, Nanxun Town, Zhili Town, etc. are allowed to pass through the designated highway sections for free; Starting from July 1st this year, Tonglu will provide subsidies to specific objects and vehicles such as investment and real estate, entrepreneurship and employment, education and occupation, medical and elderly care practice, tourism consumption, etc., in a cumulative manner of no more than 300 times. However, Quzhou's policy this time has a wider scope and greater intensity. After the highway is free of charge, it benefits the business environment, improves travel conditions, and naturally brings communication and exchange. In the long run, the benefits of local governments far exceed the expenses of highways, which is a long-term livelihood project that plays a significant role in regional integration and driving economic de