On the occasion of the infrastructure dialogue at the Federal Ministry of Transport and the ongoing debate on the federal budget, the Alliance for a Socially Responsible Mobility Transition is calling for a clear prioritization of maintenance over new construction in transportation infrastructure. “To meet climate targets and secure the foundations of life, no budget cuts may be made in the areas of public services or climate protection. The socio-ecological transformation of transportation infrastructure must be made a political priority,” stated the broad civil society alliance in a paper presented today.
Currently, dilapidated bridges, railways, and roads are limiting the mobility of many people and, as a result, their participation in social life. The status quo of the infrastructure is also a stumbling block for commercial transportation. The associated delays, detours, and unreliability represent a significant time and cost factor.
Currently, a shortfall in the double-digit billions is projected for the 2025 federal budget. Given the expected massive cost increases for projects under the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, continuing on the same path—with ever-new highways and federal roads—is neither possible nor sustainable, even from a fiscal policy perspective.
The Alliance for a Socially Responsible Mobility Transition sees an urgent need for action to safeguard public services, meet climate targets, and maintain the region’s attractiveness as a business location:
- Dilapidated roads and bridges jeopardize mobility: The maintenance and repair of the existing transportation network must consistently be given higher priority than the construction and expansion of highways and federal roads. Only in justified exceptional cases may new road construction still be necessary to a limited extent.
- Harnessing potential and expanding the rail network: To ensure a resilient rail network in the long term, in addition to the rapid and comprehensive renovation, electrification, and reactivation of lines, more federal funding is needed for the environmentally sustainable expansion of the rail network.
- Reliable options for commuting: To ensure genuine freedom of choice among modes of transportation, more staff are needed, along with attractive, reliable, and accessible public transit options—especially in rural areas—as well as public charging infrastructure for commuters.
- Financial relief for society through targeted investments: We need honesty in the debate and fairness in the distribution of public funds. Climate-damaging subsidies must be phased out in a socially responsible manner, and funds must be reallocated from climate-damaging to climate-friendly infrastructure.
“A fundamental shift away from the construction of new highways and federal highways will free up urgently needed financial resources for the maintenance of the existing road network and for investments in rail infrastructure and eco-friendly transportation,” the joint statement reads. Sustainable mobility options could thus be used by everyone, offer a genuine choice between modes of transportation, contribute to active climate protection, and secure jobs in future-proof industries.
The Alliance for a Socially Equitable Mobility Transition welcomes the discussion on an infrastructure fund and proposes a multi-modal, multi-year infrastructure fund modeled after the Swiss system, with clearly defined funding pillars for rail, public transit, walking, and cycling, as well as support programs for charging infrastructure. Higher, reliable, and predictable funding is urgently needed for a successful mobility transition.
The position paper from the Alliance for a Socially Responsible Mobility Transition can be downloaded here .
The Alliance for a Socially Responsible Mobility Transition brings together expertise from labor unions (IG Metall, ver.di, DGB), social, welfare, and environmental organizations (VdK, SoVD, AWO, VCD, BUND, NABU), and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) to jointly support the transformation of mobility in Germany. Together, the Alliance represents many millions of members and provides a platform for addressing issues surrounding a socially and environmentally sustainable mobility transition. The Alliance is funded and supported by the Mercator Foundation.
