Kópavogur mayor Ásdís Kristjánsdóttir addresses skepticism over revised transport agreement

The mayor of Kópavogur, Ásdís Kristjánsdóttir, acknowledges the skepticism surrounding a newly revised transport agreement, citing previous unacceptable practices related to the former version of the agreement. She asserts that no one has proposed more efficient or realistic solutions than what is outlined in the revamped pact.

The updated transport agreement for the capital region was unveiled at a press conference yesterday. Initially signed in 2019, the original agreement featured grand presentations promising historic infrastructure projects, including the completion of the first phase of the City Line projected for 2023 and all construction finished by 2030. However, the City Line has yet to debut, and new completion estimates now extend to 2040.

Kristjánsdóttir, previously critical of the agreement before taking office, had called for its reassessment due to ongoing issues that she believes do not reflect reality. She noted that it was inappropriate for municipalities to singularly manage public transport operations, as was originally intended.

She emphasized that, with the revised agreement, project oversight would directly engage those responsible, ensuring ownership accountability. Additionally, the government has taken a significant step by assuming 87.5% of the costs and committing to public bus service operations.

Despite criticisms from within her own Independence Party, regarding the agreement’s funding—which is projected to total at least 310 billion ISK—Kristjánsdóttir stands firm. She respects the concerns but insists that no alternative proposals have surfaced that provide more cost-effective or timely solutions. Thus, she supports participation in the revised agreement, suggesting it will ultimately prove its worth, even with a completion timeline that stretches until at least 2040.