Pellervo Taloustutkimus PTT investigates the functionality and financing of the Finnish transport network. At the beginning of the investigation, a huge difference between the amounts of money spent on infrastructure by Sweden and Finland was revealed.
Based on PTT's report, Sweden invests about 30 percent more in the maintenance of the transport network than Finland compared to the national product and transport performance.
In the coming years, Sweden will invest more than 2,3 billion in infrastructure. In Finland, the level falls below 400 million.
Director General of the Finnish Transport Agency Antti Vehviläinen met the CEO of the Swedish Trafikverket Gunnar Malmin In Stockholm at the beginning of June. The CEOs discussed the difference in the level of traffic funding in the neighborhoods and the ongoing survey work.
"In Sweden, a larger percentage of the national product is spent on transport infrastructure. The country has a decision-making system that supports a long-term transport policy, and the time span of the transport policy is 12 years. Traffic and infrastructure are seen as an investment in the future, people's well-being and the competitiveness of the business world," says Trafikverket CEO Gunnar Malm.
Director General of the Finnish Transport Agency Antti Vehviläinen expressed his concern about the situation of Finland's transport network. According to him, the repair debt will continue to grow with the current financing.
Pellervo's Taloustutkimus PTT project is financed by the Finnish Confederation of Business and Industry EK, SAK, STTK, MTK, Rakennusliitto, Veturimiesten liitto and the cooperative association of rail professionals JHL, AKT, Metsäteollisuus, INFRA, SKOL, MARA and SKAL. The work will be completed in the fall of 2014. Preliminary information on the first background reports comparing the situation in Sweden and Finland has been published on PTT's website.
MORE INFORMATION:
Pellervo Taloustutkimus PTT
Pasi Holm, 050 374 7462 and Valtteri Härmälä, 040 641 5732
(the rest of the email @ptt.fi)
Transport Agency
Division Director Kari Ruohonen, 029 534 3831
(the rest of the email @liikennevirasto.fi)