17.02.2023
Regional Assembly of Oulu Region: Where did the development of the entire Finnish transport network go?
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's investment programme does not implement the objectives of the Transport12 plan in terms of accessibility, sustainability and efficiency and climate change in northern Finland. Russia's war of aggression has changed its geopolitical position and the weight of the north has increased decisively. Changes in mobility flows, the preconditions for military mobility, as well as the energy crisis and security of supply needs underline the importance of the North. The logistics position of Northern Ostrobothnia and Northern Finland as a whole has changed internationally and in relation to the rest of Europe.
The programme completely ignores the needs of the inhabitants and business life in northern Finland. In Northern Finland, ongoing and ongoing business investments must be reflected in a completely different weight. The strong transformation related to the energy economy requires immediate investments in the fairway infrastructure in Northern Ostrobothnia and in the whole of Northern Finland.
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's investment programme does not implement the European Union's transport policy objectives for Northern Finland. The twin track section of the main line and the development of the VT4, representing the European TEN-T core network corridor, are the main investments in strengthening national security of supply and Northern competitiveness. For the main line, the most critical interval is the Liminka-Oulu section in the first phase. For highways 4 and 29, less than 40 % of the road section covers the criteria for the core network corridor. The fairway sections covering the criteria are located in Southern Finland.
Total investments in the draft programme are completely insufficient – for Northern Finland there are no. The repair debt of the road and rail transport network is increasing all the time. It reduces the accessibility of northern Finland and increases transport and production costs. This has a significant impact on Finland's competitiveness and national security of supply and overall safety.
The northern sections of the TEN-T core network corridors need to be taken into account in the Investment Plan in order to make full use of EU CEF funding in addition to narrow national funding. Finland is committed to building the TEN-T core network in accordance with the Regulation by 2030.
The financial framework and broad lines of the investment programme are set out in the Transport 12 plan. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia proposes that the Transport 12 plan be renewed and dismantled with an accelerated schedule due to a radically changed operating environment. The federation emphasises the development of planning capacity for northern fairways and proposes that the regional councils participate in the preparation of the basic programme of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency together with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
The traffic flow of the road network has deteriorated in recent years. In addition to the main roads, it is extremely important to maintain a functioning lower-level road network for the operating conditions of Finnish business life and the smooth everyday life of companies and people. Securing domestic and distributed bioenergy and wood supply requires the maintenance of a low-traffic road network. The functionality of agriculture and the production of domestic food rely heavily on the road network. In addition, as a result of the significant investments planned in the forest and energy sector in Northern Ostrobothnia, the number of heavy transports on the lower road network will increase. Well-maintained roads are a security of supply factor.
Finland must promote the EU's transport policy objectives as well as national security of supply and overall safety with regard to the development of the fairway network. The TEN-T guidelines and the increasing strategic importance of the North should be a key guideline for the national transport system and the investment programme. Northern Finland has the potential to offer growth, security and cooperation for the benefit of Finland as a whole.
NORTH NORTH APPLICATION
Mari-Leena Talvitie, President of the Regional Council
Jouni Jussinniemi, 1st Vice-Chairman of the Regional Council
Jarmo Haapaniemi, 2nd Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Council
Tuomas Okkonen, 3rd Vice-Chairman of the Provincial Council
Jussi Ylitalo, President of the the Board of the Regional Assembly
Esa Aalto, Vice-President of the Provincial Government
Additional information: Regional Director Markus Erkkilä, tel. +358 40 685 4045
