Impact assessment

Residents’ mobility can be enhanced by transport system planning. For example, the competitiveness of walking, cycling and public transport can be improved by developing urban structure, transport networks and services. On the other hand, transport system planning can reduce adverse effects of traffic that can significantly influence people’s living conditions in the long run.  Successful planning can, for example, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

SEA Act sets out rules for impact assessments

Helsinki Region Transport System Plan HLJ is regulated by the Act on the Assessment of the Impacts of the Authorities' Plans, Programmes and Policies on the Environment (SEA Act). The Act regulates environmental impact assessments of plans and programs. According to the SEA Act and the Decree of the Council of State (347/2005) which supplements the act, authorities must investigate and assess the environmental impacts of a plan during the course of drawing up of the plan if the implementation of the plan may have significant impacts on the environment. 

Impacts of transport system plan are assessed during the course of drawing up of the plan and the studies related to it.

Focus on the impacts on the environment, land use and circulation of traffic

The key goal of the impact assessment is to get an overall view of the significant impacts of the plan.  In addition to environmental impacts, the assessment considers impacts on land use and functionality and safety of the transport system.  Impacts can also be assessed by districts or population groups. The aim of the assessment is to support the preparation of the plan and cooperation needed in the drawing up, implementation, monitoring and public discussion of the plan.

The impacts of the transport system plan concern the entire planning area, businesses located in the area and residents living in it. For the purposes of HLJ, HSL prepares interaction and communications plans that include tools for interaction.

Important societal targets are amongst other things national land use guidelines, transport and climate policy objectives, and key goals determined when creating the HLJ vision.