Dilapidated Transport Routes – Federal States Insist on Fund

Collapsed Bridge in Dresden Another Warning Sign 

“After the collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden, things cannot continue as before,” said NRW Transport Minister and current VMK Chairman Oliver Krischer (Greens) to the German Press Agency. “To avoid further damage, we need a strategic shift in the renovation of our transport infrastructure.” If there is no massive, long-term, and planned investment now, further deteriorations at the expense of the next generation and Germany’s position are imminent. “That’s why we need an infrastructure fund, and indeed before the federal election.”

Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and Wissing have both expressed support for the idea of a fund and have also called for it, Krischer said. But so far nothing has happened. According to NRW’s proposed resolution, the investment fund for transport infrastructure is to be established as a special federal asset under a corresponding law with the approval of the Bundesrat. 

Mobilizing Private Capital

To finance primarily the railway infrastructure, according to a draft resolution available to the German Press Agency, funds from the CO2 pricing in transportation should be increasingly used. It is also recommended to examine if and how private capital can be activated to finance the fund. From the perspective of the Transport Ministers’ Conference, it must be the common goal to present the political decision-makers in the coming legislative period

“a balanced and future-proof fund model for adoption,” the draft states.

The state transport ministers had already welcomed Wissing’s proposal for an infrastructure fund at their conference in April and asked the ministry to present a concept by their autumn conference. The transport ministers of the states will meet in Duisburg on Wednesday and Thursday. Federal Minister Wissing is also expected to attend.

Quick Solution Demanded

Baden-Württemberg’s Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Green Party) emphasized that a solution must be found soon. An infrastructure fund, meaning a financing that is independent from the annual budget and reliable, is the key to a sustainable future financing. At the upcoming transport ministers’ conference, a fundamental decision could be made based on the paper from the chairing state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

“The constant back and forth in transport financing in Germany shows that we need better and more sustainable instruments,” said Hermann.

The railways have been underfunded, and every day where decisive action is not taken with the bridges takes its toll. 

Translated automatically from German.