Upon taking office, the new Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), announced far-reaching changes in transport policy. His plans focus on accelerating planning and approval procedures, prioritizing maintenance over new construction projects, and increasing investment in rail. The goal is to create a reliable infrastructure for all modes of transport that forms the basis for mobility, the economy, and—as Schnieder stated in the Bundestag—climate protection.
To expedite the rehabilitation of Germany's dilapidated transport infrastructure, the minister intends to systematically digitize planning and approval procedures and make them more flexible. A uniform procedural law for infrastructure projects is planned to avoid duplicate reviews, shorten deadlines, and streamline the right to collective action. Schnieder emphasized the necessity of this acceleration, even if it may be inconvenient in individual cases.
Schnieder is placing particular emphasis on strengthening the railway system. Investments in the rail network are to be increased to improve its reliability and punctuality. At the same time, he announced a review of the planned general renovations to determine whether full closures, such as on the Frankfurt-Mannheim line, are truly always unavoidable. He intends to make personnel decisions on the railway board only once the concrete goals and paths to achieving them have been defined. To finance the projects, the ministry is planning a new special fund for infrastructure. Local public transport will also continue to be supported, and the Deutschlandticket will be put on a solid footing. In addition to rail and road, Schnieder also wants to make air transport more competitive by reducing taxes, fees, and charges, and to improve traffic safety together with federal states and municipalities. Digitalization remains an important factor, both for accelerating procedures and improving traffic management.
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