Free climaticket for 18-year-olds is abolished-Diepresse.com
15 million euros have been spent on the free ticket so far. The Ministry of Transport confirmed the savings measure on Friday evening. The former Minister Gewessler thinks this is « wrong ».
Already in the government program of the three-person coalition, a “further development” of the climatic pocket was announced. This now affects the possibility for 18-year-olds for free use. A cancellation of the « KTÖ18 » had previously been planned in the failed negotiations by ÖVP and FPÖ. On Friday evening, the Ministry of Transport confirmed the end for the free « KTÖ18 » via broadcast.
« In the sense of the budget consolidation, extensive austerity measures are required. The federal government has therefore set the free climate kit for 18-year-olds as part of the necessary savings, » said the broadcast. As a reason, Peter Hanke’s department stated that experts had criticized the offer introduced by the ÖVP-Grünen coalition in July 2024 as « too little ».
Use rate « remained behind the expectations »
Only 25,000 18-year-olds had perceived the offer across Austria, according to the Ministry of Transport. « The rate of use is around a quarter and remained behind the expectations, » it said. « Already issued climaticket Ö 18 remain valid until the printed date. The reduced climate set ö Jugend is available for everyone under 26 years at a price of 884.20 euros or less than 2.50 ꞓ per day. »
The « Tyrolean daily newspaper (Tt) « in her Friday edition of an already finished regulation in the Mobility Ministry. This means in a statement to the APA that on the one hand the budget numbers published yesterday would underline the need for consolidation to which the Federal Government agreed – also every department must make its contribution. » Savings potential was found. In the evening the confirmation came.
In the TT, the Tyrolean Neos regional spokesman and National Councilor Dominik Oberhofer commented on the free climate that was introduced by the then Minister of Transport Leonore Gewessler (Greens) that almost 15 million euros had been spent on this since 2024. It was clear that such « financial sugar » will no longer play in such a tense federal budget in the future.
Gewessler: « I think it’s wrong »
The current climate protection spokeswoman for the Greens naturally reacted to these plans with criticism. The government pranks « a big piece of freedom to young people in Austria, » said Gewessler. The KTÖ18 was an investment in a good future to inspire young people sustainably for public transport and climate protection. « While there is a further money for the billion dollar grave Lobauobahn and the subsidy of foreign freight with the diesel privilege, the government saves the youth of all things. I think that is wrong, » said Gewessler in a statement. (APA)
