Government proposes EUR 3.5 billion for the budget of the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 7.10.2019 15.26
Press release
Road in Lapland (Photo: Shutterstock)
Road in Lapland (Photo: Shutterstock)

The Government proposes that EUR 3.5 billion be allocated to the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for 2020. This is over EUR 600 million more than in the Budget for 2019.

The increase is due to the significant investments made in accordance with the Government Programme in the public passenger transport, managing the repair backlog and improving the transport network.

It is proposed that EUR 2.1 billion be allocated to the transport and communications network, EUR 771 million to transport and communication services and EUR 636 million to administration and joint expenditure for the administrative branch.

More funding for basic transport infrastructure management

A majority of the appropriations to transport and communications networks, EUR 1.4 billion, will be allocated to the basic transport infrastructure management of roads, railways and waterways.

According to the proposal by a parliamentary working group, from 2020 onwards there will be a permanent general increase of EUR 300 million in the basic transport infrastructure management. The increase in funding aims at managing and gradually reducing the repair backlog. In accordance with the Government Programme, EUR 20 million is proposed to be allocated to improving the winter maintenance of roads.

Together with other increases, the funding for the basic transport infrastructure management will grow by EUR 362 million in 2020. This increase will be used to fund, for example, several small projects across Finland to improve the transport network.  The projects will promote walking and cycling, traffic safety and smooth flow of transport services. For 2020, the amount of funding for them will be EUR 42 million.

In infrastructure management, priority will be given to measures ensuring the daily functioning of transport, the good condition of the network that is busy and important for business and industry, and the opportunities provided by digitalisation.

An appropriation of EUR 20 million is proposed for private road grants.

Transport infrastructure development

The Government is making provision for plans to implement the one-hour Helsinki-Turku fast rail line and the fast Finland Railway rail line by preparing to recapitalise the involved project companies by EUR 15.7 million. The State is prepared to finance the planning by a total of EUR 115 million.

In 2019, seven new transport infrastructure investment projects adopted by Parliament in the second supplementary budget for 2019 were started.

The Government will improve the rail connections to the main line between Tampere and Pori, Tampere and Jyväskylä, and Seinäjoki and Vaasa. The Tampere-Pori rail service will be speeded up by allocating EUR 40 million in basic infrastructure management funds for the removal of level crossings. An authorisation of EUR 18 million is proposed to be allocated to planning faster services and improved capacity on the Tampere-Jyväskylä line. An authorisation of EUR 3 million is proposed to be allocated to planning faster services on the Seinäjoki-Vaasa line.

A new project will be set up for the electrification of the rail section between Hanko and Hyvinkää. For that, the Government proposes an appropriation of EUR 62 million.

The Government proposes an appropriation of EUR 0.2 million for the planning purposes of deepening the Ajos sea route in Kemi.

For removing dangerous level crossings, a total of EUR 12 million is proposed.

An appropriation of EUR 9.1 million is proposed to be allocated to state subsidies for road safety activities and development projects, experimentation and safety research.

Additional funding to walking and cycling

The targets for reducing transport emissions will be a response to Finland's objective of carbon neutrality. As a step towards carbon-free transport, emissions will be reduced by at least half by 2030. The measures will reduce transport performances and help make a transition towards more sustainable modes of transport.

As part of the promotion programme adopted by the Government, a joint investment programme by the state and municipalities will be implemented to improve the conditions for walking and cycling. The promotion programme is part of the national energy and climate strategy.

In the budget for 2020, a total of EUR 24.5 million is proposed for the promotion of walking and cycling, covering the actions within the state network with EUR 10 million and the discretionary government transfers to municipalities with EUR 14.5 million.

Transport and communication services

Altogether EUR 92 million is proposed to be allocated to improving the competitiveness of vessels in maritime transport.

An appropriation of EUR 108 million is proposed to be allocated for purchasing and developing public transport services. This includes the general increase of EUR 20 million to climate-related measures as specified in the Government Programme.

An additional EUR 1.25 million is proposed for the purchases in archipelago and ferry transport services. It would be used for repairing the quays used by the ferries. In total, the appropriation would be over EUR 19 million.

Additional funding for the National Cyber Security Centre

For 2020, additional funding of EUR 1.2 million is proposed for the National Cyber Security Centre. In addition, it is proposed that the Ministry of Transport and Communications receive EUR 2 million for the coordination and improvement of cyber security.

The Centre operates under the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom. It improves and supervises the reliability and security of the communications networks and services and provides a situation report on information security.

Projects of the Finnish Meteorological Institute

It is proposed that additional EUR 700,000 be allocated to the operating appropriations of the Finnish Meteorological Institute for providing space weather services in accordance with the requirements of the global ICAO Space Weather Centre.

Additional EUR 600,000 are proposed to be allocated to the Meteorological Institute to fund the European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS).

Inquiries:

Sanna Marin, Minister of Transport and Communications, contacts: Pirita Ruokonen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 50 911 3099

Mikko Koskinen, State Secretary, tel. +358 50 304 2007

Basic transport infrastructure management, infrastructure network development, walking and cycling:
Sabina Lindström, Director-General, tel.  + 358 40 527 6103

Transport and communication services:
Olli-Pekka Rantala, Director-General, tel. +358 50 344 3400

Pasi Ovaska, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. + 358 50 467 1645