The Federal Council opened the consultation proposal 'Transport '45' on Friday, which for the first time consolidates the expansion and maintenance of Swiss infrastructure across all modes of transport into a single proposal. The SBV welcomes the cross-modal approach. The high level of support for the Sustainability Initiative has clearly shown that the increasing strain on transport infrastructure concerns many people. Therefore, the 'Transport '45' consultation proposal must be more than just another planning document. It must lay the foundation for long-term reliable financing and coordinated further development of roads, rail, and slow traffic. Parties and organisations are urged to clearly commit to a capable and future-oriented transport infrastructure and to sufficient funds for its maintenance.
This requires coordinated expansion programmes as well as long- term reliable financing. Sufficient funds must be provided for all modes of transport over decades without misappropriation. Financing gaps must be consistently avoided. The SBV welcomes the extension of the currently temporary VAT increase until 2030 as a source of income for the Railway Infrastructure Fund (RIF) for financing the planned rail expansion and maintenance of the rail network. It also shares the view that a cause-oriented taxation of electric vehicles is needed in the medium term to finance road infrastructure.
Effective projects instead of political symbolism.
For the SBV, it is crucial that available funds are used where they achieve the greatest transport and economic benefits. Therefore, priority should be given to projects that demonstrably eliminate bottlenecks, increase performance and transport safety, and secure the long-term maintenance of infrastructure.
Prioritisation should not be based on political symbolism or a rigid mode-of-transport logic. Decisive factors must be comprehensible criteria and the tangible benefits for the population and the economy. At the same time, projects must be designed so that they are politically feasible and implementable within a realistic timeframe.
Railway as a central pillar of the transport system.
The SBV welcomes the further development of rail infrastructure. The railway is a central pillar of the transport system. A transport policy that delays investments in the railways or weakens their financing endangers the efficiency of the entire system, the development of public transport, and ultimately the attractiveness of the location.
Future- oriented mobility needs efficient roads.
The road is of particular importance. It carries the largest share of traffic in Switzerland and is indispensable for supply, trade, and accessibility to all parts of the country. However, a structural imbalance threatens the road infrastructure, as projects in the rail sector can count on broad political support, while politics must recognise that investments in relevant road projects for expansion and maintenance are also necessary. Here, safety and transport benefits need to be centralised, otherwise, the needs-oriented and balanced infrastructure planning is in danger.
For the SBV, one thing is clear: A transport policy that politically blocks individual modes of transport harms the entire system, the industry, and ultimately the population. In this sense, the SBV will actively participate in the consultation and oppose the emerging disadvantage of the road.