The problem of traffic congestion on several roads in Russia is expected to be solved not only by building toll roads, but also by building commercial railway crossings – automobile overpasses at railway crossings. The Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily reported this, citing the Russian Railways’ President Vladimir Yakunin.
Such railway crossings will initially be built in the Moscow metropolitan area. They may also appear in Moscow and in the Moscow region. Local authorities are already holding the relevant negotiations with the Russian Railways. According to the report, most of the railway crossings, except those that are part of the federal railway network, will be owned by the regions, just like commuter services.
The regions came up with the idea of building toll railway crossings because of lack of money. In addition to the Road Fund, regional transport projects are expected to be financed from a special investment fund in the form of a public-private partnership. Many regions have already obtained large amounts of credits, and it will be difficult for them to take on new debt.
As Russia’s Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov stated during the Transport Week 2013 forum, state guarantee should be provided to investors through these funds because it will be impossible to raise money for financing transport projects without it.
