Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE1630
2007-09-05 11:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL KAMARCK DISCUSSES DUTCH APPROACHES TO TRAFFIC

Tags:  SENV OREP PGOV ECON NL 
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FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0186
INFO RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0526
RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 3568
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001630 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
H PASS TO SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
AND COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC WORKS

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: SENV OREP PGOV ECON NL
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL KAMARCK DISCUSSES DUTCH APPROACHES TO TRAFFIC
CONGESTION


THE HAGUE 00001630 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001630

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
H PASS TO SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
AND COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC WORKS

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: SENV OREP PGOV ECON NL
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL KAMARCK DISCUSSES DUTCH APPROACHES TO TRAFFIC
CONGESTION


THE HAGUE 00001630 001.2 OF 002



1. SUMMARY. Staffdel Kamarck visited the Netherlands August 8-11
to discuss Dutch approaches to countering traffic congestion,
including a new road usage tax scheme and the expansion of metro
lines in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The delegation also focused on
freight transport issues, with a visit to the port of Rotterdam,
Europe's largest container processing port. This message has been
cleared by Heideh Shahmoradi-Holley, U.S. Department of
Transportation. END SUMMARY.


2. Jonathon Kamarck, Republican Clerk, Senate Subcommittee on
Transportation Appropriations, led a delegation to the Netherlands
August 8-11 for discussions with national and local Dutch transport
officials on traffic congestion relief efforts and innovative
approaches to countering congestion problems in the Netherlands.
Other delegation members included Heideh Shahmoradi-Holley, Special
Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Kelly Kolb, Associate Director,
Governmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation, Ellen Stein
Beares, Professional Staff, Senate Subcommittee on Transportation
Appropriations, Matthew McCardle, Professional Staff, Senate
Subcommittee on Transportation Appropriations, James O'Keeffe,
Senior Economist, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works,
and Alexander Herrgott, Research Analyst, Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works.


3. Robert Hijman, Senior Policy Advisor, Dutch Ministry of
Transport, Public Works, and Water Management (MOT),briefed the
delegation on different aspects of the so-called GONL Mobility
Policy Document, which outlines Dutch national transport policy for
the next 15 years. Joris Al, Managing Director, Transport and
Navigation Department, Rijkswaterstaat, MOT, and Ronald Keus, Senior
Policy Advisor, MOT, discussed road traffic issues, including a new
road usage tax scheme that the GONL expects to introduce in phases
beginning in 2011. Under the new system, vehicle owners would pay

an annual road tax based on actual usage rather than the vehicle's
purchase price, as is currently done. These officials noted the
reasoning for the road pricing approach is two-fold. First, it
optimizes the use of existing infrastructure to eliminate or
minimize bottleneck sections of road. Secondly, it more fairly
targets the direct users of the road system. Despite unsuccessful
efforts by previous Transport Ministers, these officials were
confident that new Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings had the
political and public support needed to gain approval for the new
system.


4. Rene Fennes, Head of International Relations,
Directorate-General for Freight Transport and Aviation (DGTL) at the
MOT, discussed general civil aviation issues with the delegation,
noting that ensuring continued economic growth was a key factor
underlying Dutch freight transport and aviation policy. Jos Nollet,
Senior Policy Advisor, DGTL, discussed safety and air traffic,
emphasizing that the limiting factor for aviation growth (and
consequential congestion) in the Netherlands was not runway
capacity, but environment, noise, and civil airspace limitations.
Jeroen Muntinga, Senior Policy Advisor, DGTL, discussed freight
transport aspects of the GONL's Mobility Policy Document, including
the need for a long-term Dutch strategic policy to accommodate
expected growth of freight transport through the Netherlands and to
find solutions to combat congestion threatening the nation's
economic growth.


5. During a visit to the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Public Transport
Information Centers, city officials briefed the delegation on
different construction methods and timetables for expanding the
metro and commuter rail systems in these cities. Danny Spee, Policy
Advisor, City of Amsterdam, discussed the development of a
North-South Amsterdam Metro Line, noting that wet soil and legal
issues remained the biggest challenges in constructing this new
line, which was not expected to be operational for at least nine
years. These officials stressed the importance of pressing forward
with construction, as traffic congestion in Amsterdam remained a
significant problem and as traffic was expected to continue to grow.
Rene Wondergem, Communication Officer, Infracenter Rotterdam,
briefed the delegation on the Randstad commuter rail system, the
national ChipCard system (for simplified fare payment),and the
development of Rotterdam Central Station. He explained how these
developments are encouraging commuters to use the rail system
instead of personal vehicle transport.


6. At Rotterdam's World Port Center, Rene Luijcx, Chief External
Relations Officer and Member of the Board of the Port of Rotterdam,
gave an overview of port security as well as the port's structure
and expansion plans. He noted that Rotterdam is the second largest
port in the world (in terms of size) with more than 378 million tons
of cargo passing through it annually, of which almost 50 percent is

THE HAGUE 00001630 002.2 OF 002


liquid cargo. Given an expected increase in future container
transport, he said the port's new expansion at Maasvlakte 2 will be
built to accommodate greater container and chemical transport. Port
officials also gave a brief demonstration of the real-time vessel
tracking capability of the port, noting that both port logistics and
law enforcement personnel had secure access to this information.


7. NOTE: Rotterdam port stretches for nearly 30 miles and the port
and industrial area covers 26,000 acres. Rotterdam is Europe's
largest container processing port, although the majority of
shipments are in bulk form. Rotterdam is Europe's most important
port for oil and chemicals, iron ore, coal, food, and metals. Crude
oil, oil products, and liquid chemicals together account for almost
half of the total cargo transiting Rotterdam; five refineries are
situated within the port and industrial complex. Liquid oil and
petroleum products are transported throughout Europe through a
comprehensive network of pipelines. END NOTE.

GALLAGHER