Municipalities, take control of the overpriced HSL!

The City of Espoo must ensure that affordable public transport tickets for special groups, such as students, are maintained and general ticket price increases are avoided in the next council term. Instead, HSL’s student discount must be increased back to 50% and reintroduced for single tickets.

‘Major cuts are being made to students’ livelihood, and municipalities must do everything they can to ease students’ difficult situation. Public transport can be a significant strain on student budgets, which is why Espoo must promote affordable public transport’, says Katariina Kokkonen, Member of the AYY Board.

The costs of building and maintaining HSL infrastructure, such as the metro and rail traffic, must not be passed on to passengers through continuous ticket price increases. Instead, Espoo and other municipalities in the HSL area should bear a larger share of these expenses through the HSL municipal contributions. This will guarantee an affordable level of public transport, ensuring that everyone’s right to mobility is realised.

‘Smooth public transport in the metropolitan area benefits all. The cities are the most suitable party to bear the responsibility for public transport development’, emphasises Kokkonen.

In the upcoming council term, Espoo and other municipalities in the HSL area must prioritise accessible and affordable mobility. AYY urges the city to listen to the voice of students and ensure that public transport and light traffic solutions better serve the needs of students.

Further information:
Katariina Kokkonen, Member of the AYY Board
katariina.kokkonen@ayy.fi

The statement is part of AYY's campaign for municipal and county elections.