Finnish transport system now developed as a whole – start of preparations for the national plan

The preparations for Finland's first national transport system plan are starting. The plan will provide the basis for Finland's transport network and services.

"We have our eyes fixed firmly on the future, and from now on the approach to the development of the transport system will cover 12 years. We aim at a socially sustainable and regionally balanced transport system plan that will ensure fluent mobility for both people and businesses throughout Finland and mitigate global warming," says Minister of Transport and Communications Sanna Marin.

Instead of individual projects, in future the system will be addressed as a single package and a more long-tern approach can be adopted for the planning and financing of measures. The goal is to ensure people and businesses across Finland with good opportunities for mobility and transport.   A long-term 12-year plan reaching across government terms will ensure that the development of the transport system is predictable from the perspective of people, businesses, municipalities and the public sector.

What is a national transport system plan?

The plan can deal with government measures in planning, constructing, maintaining and acquiring services related to transport and mobility. Ways to reduce emissions from transport will also be examined. These types of elements will make up the programme. 

The transport system plan will include a government funding programme with direct budgetary financing and possibly funding from outside the Budget.  The plan preparations are based on the policies outlined in the government programme on state funding that include an increase of EUR 300 million in the management of the basic transport infrastructure from 2020 onwards. 

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will be responsible for the preparations of the national transport system plan. The planning will be directed by a parliamentary working group led by Minister Marin. Members of the working group will represent all parliamentary groups. The working group will direct the plan preparations and discuss its contents. A cooperation group led by the Ministry of Transport and Communications will also be established with representatives from key ministries, agencies, regional councils, urban regions and municipalities. The cooperation group will ensure that the planning will be carried out in close collaboration with people and the business and industry. Once completed, Finland's first 12-year transport system plan will be adopted by the Government.

The previous transport system plans in Finland have been regional. There has been no national plan and the needs regarding the transport system have been reviewed by government terms. The transport system comprises transport networks, services, data and all transport modes; road, railway, water and air transport. 

How to take part in the planning?

People, authorities and stakeholder groups can express their views on the preparations of the national transport system plan and on the cooperation and participation opportunities during the planning process.  

An impact assessment will be carried out on the transport system plan and its measures. During the planning process, the impacts of the measures on, for example, climate emissions, Finland's competitiveness, traffic safety, people's opportunities for mobility, and regional accessibility will be assessed. The assessment will be made in terms of ecological, financial and social sustainability. 

To support the plan preparations, the Transport and Communications Agency (TrafiCom) is drafting a description of the current state of the transport system and the changes in the operating environment. The aim is a comprehensive, common view of the current and future state of the transport system. Traficom will also issue a questionnaire on the subject. 

What next?

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will appoint a parliamentary and a cooperation working group. A consultation round will be organised to hear the views on the transport system planning and impact assessment. 

The Ministry of Transport and Communications arranged a discussion forum on the national transport system plan on 17 June 2019.

Inquiries:

Minister of Transport and Communications Sanna Marin
Secretary to the Minister Riitta Mäkelä, tel. +358 295 34 2321, [email protected]
Communications Director Susanna Niinivaara, tel. +358 40 081 6187, [email protected], @SNiinivaara

Director General Sabina Lindström, tel. +358 40 527 6103, [email protected], Twitter @LindstromSabina