The organization of transport in the federal republic of Germany: Fid-Bau Portal

The organization of transport in the federal republic of Germany

Gand, Heino

The present transport system of the Federal Republic of Germany has reached a high standard for all modes and is capable of meeting the demand for mobility and for a free choice of the means of transport. Road transport is predominating, performing 80% of passenger transport and 50% of goods transport. The network of the federal motorways (Autobahnen) today has a total length of 7500 km. Environment protection, energy policy and traffic safety led to a reconsideration of transport policy priorities. Qualitative aspects of road construction are now being emphasized, and more importance is attached to the cooperation of all modes of transport. The improvement of the federal rail network is a principal target, and the implementation of attractive urban transit system is to be continued. The basis for federal investment decisions is the Federal Traffic Infrastructure Plan, aiming at intermodal planning and evaluation in consideration of cost‐benefit analyses. The role of the Länder of the Federal Republic is largely restricted to regional planning and financing, but the influence of regional authorities on the federal transport policy, as a matter of fact, is considerable. Transport regulations are pursued according to the principle of a ‘controlled’ market. State interventions occur with respect to capacities and tariffs. Long‐distance road haulage is subject to licensing in order to protect the railways against this competitor. In the fields of passenger transport, a better cooperation of public operators is aimed at. Financial problems require subsidies to be limited especially as far as the railways are concerned. Regulations in the field of transport as well as technical standards are aiming at a reduction of harmful effects of traffic. The Federal Republic of Germany, traversed by principal European traffic arteries, has to take into account the international dimension of its transport policy.