Lower Austria rules out truck toll on state roads

Lower Austria will not introduce a truck toll on its state roads in 2027, ORF reported on Wednesday. Udo Landbauer, the deputy governor responsible for transport and infrastructure, said no such toll would be introduced under his responsibility.

Landbauer said an additional charge would put further pressure on companies during economically difficult times and could threaten jobs. He argued that making transport more expensive would drive up living costs and weaken the competitiveness of local businesses.

The statement followed plans in neighbouring Burgenland to introduce a user fee for heavy vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes on three state roads from the start of 2027. An annual vignette is expected to cost between 650 and 1,000 euros.

Burgenland Governor Hans Peter Doskozil said on Wednesday that he would revise the plan after criticism from the business community. He announced talks with business representatives and said a new proposal would be prepared. The measure was intended to target transit traffic rather than local companies, according to the announcement.

Landbauer, a member of the Freedom Party, sharply criticised the Social Democratic Party over the Burgenland plans. Lower Austria’s governing parties, the Freedom Party and the Austrian People’s Party, oppose introducing a truck toll on state roads in the province.

Florian Krumböck, an Austrian People’s Party member of the Lower Austrian state parliament, said the toll would impose an additional burden on businesses and residents and was the wrong approach.