In our neighboring countries, strong development of the transport network is seen as one of the most important promoters of competitiveness. Without a corresponding clear strategy based on the national interest and sticking to it, Finland will inevitably fall behind.
"Movement and transport are on the threshold of a major revolution. It is important to stop and think about what needs the transport infrastructure will serve in the future and where infrastructure investments should be invested. You have to choose the destination you want to go to and identify which route, how and at what speed you can get there", infrastructure market expert Eero Nipple Tampere University of Applied Sciences says.
In the study piloted by the Technology Research Center VTT and Tampere University of Applied Sciences, four alternative paths are outlined for the development of Finland's transport infrastructure and investments in development: Smart, Huge, Kuuliainen and Niukka. These lead to very different future pictures when the review period is extended until 2040.
Images of the future have been mirrored in various goals related to Finland's position in Europe, the competitiveness of the business world, employment, the platform economy and carbon-free transport.
"In many respects, the objectives would be best met in the scenario named Huima, where strong investments are made in the conditions for the transportation of raw materials and goods in the business world and in the commuting traffic of large working areas. Finland would be more closely connected to Europe with the Helsinki–Tallinn tunnel, which would enable transit to the Northeast Corridor. The huge amount would require an increase in the total annual funding of the route maintenance from the current approximately 3,2 billion euros to 4,2 billion euros", specialist researcher at VTT Terttu Vainio toteaa.
Correspondingly, the Niukka development path would mean getting bogged down in the maintenance of the existing transport infrastructure. Meager Finland would remain the trailblazer in Europe, especially if Norway and Sweden, according to their plans, connect the big cities of their southern parts into a joint economic zone with Denmark with high-speed trains. In the smart scenario, traffic lanes become service platforms and Kuuliainen is strongly committed to emission reduction goals that would not be achieved in some of the other scenarios.
"In order to secure economic growth and competitiveness, Finland needs clearly larger transport infrastructure investments than the current one. The large-scale transport plans in southern Scandinavia, in particular, pose a tough challenge. Therefore, connections to Central Europe via the Baltic and northern connections to the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean are matters of the near future. The projects must be prepared in time to receive EU TEN-T funding, among other things. These projects also include the Koillisväylä data cable", paavo lipponen comment on the statement.
"The financing of transport infrastructure is as important as, for example, fighter jets. Airplanes cannot be financed if the economy does not grow. For that, much better domestic and international connections are needed than at present," emphasizes Lipponen.
In the development of the transport network, 25 years is a short time
The chief economist of Rakennusteollisuus RT, who chaired the project's steering group Sami Pakarinen notes that the need for physical infrastructure will not disappear, even though digitalization opens up completely new possibilities.
"By 2040, there is a need to invest a total of 77–105 billion euros in road maintenance. Funding should be used wisely. The sums are large, and from the point of view of society, a very big question is what money can achieve - or not achieve."
The steering group of the project suggests to the political decision-makers that they initiate the preparation of a long-term infrastructure plan. Instead of individual projects, it is worth looking at the entire transport system. In addition, it is necessary to explore new types of financing solutions alongside or instead of budget financing, as has already been done in connection with the transport network company survey.
"The planning and construction of transport infrastructure require a huge amount of time and work, and the life cycle of the structures is remarkably long. In terms of the preparation of significant projects, the year 2040 is already close. Now is the time to start planning strategic projects that should be implemented within the next 25 years. For example, placing highway 12 in a tunnel in Tampere was proposed in the early 1990s, and the tunnel was opened to traffic last November," Pakarinen reminds.
"Digitalization, servicization, automated traffic and ambitious emission reduction goals are themes that are revolutionizing our traffic environment and the demands on the transport infrastructure. The recently published Transport Infrastructure 2040 report and the future picture of Finland's transport and communication systems in preparation for 2030 and 2050 are valuable support in anticipating future infrastructure needs. If we want to be the pioneers of new transport services, we must also be brave in developing and supporting the infrastructure needed for them," Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner says.
The transport infrastructure 2040 project is linked to the WSP's ongoing study, in which action programs for a ten-year time span are drawn up for some of the development paths and their effects on business life are assessed. The WSP report will be completed during the beginning of the year.
The entities involved in the projects represent a diverse range of Finnish society. The steering group of the transport infrastructure 2040 project has included Rakennusteollisuus RT, the Swedish Confederation of Business and Industry EK, the Federation of Finnish Municipalities, the Finnish Transport Agency, the Confederation of Agricultural and Forestry Producers MTK, the Confederation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK and the Union of Central Employees STTK. The project has been financed by the TT Foundation.
The report is available online on VTT's website Vtt.fi/inf/pdf/technology/2017/T283.pdf
The report and materials from the announcement event on RT's website Rakennusteollisuus.fi/Liikenneinfra2040
MORE INFORMATION
Eero Nippala, TAMK, tel. 040 546 0174
Terttu Vainio, VTT, tel. 040 508 0983
Sami Pakarinen, RT, tel. 050 343 4337