The Nordic Report on Transport Policy (POLISE) will serve as the basis for the future Helsinki Region Transport System Plan (HLJ 2015). The study included the urban regions of Helsinki, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Copenhagen and Oslo.
The data was obtained from written sources as well as through interviews of experts.
"The aim was to provide a broad overall view of how transport policy has changed over the past decades in the different urban regions. In the report, we identified transport and land use policy alignments that have proven effective. The conclusions and recommendations of the report will be utilized in assessing transport policy in the Helsinki region,” says Suvi Rihtniemi, HSL’s Executive Director and the Chair of the HLJ Committee.
According to the report, strategic decisions related to land use and transport should be planned and prepared regionally and in a widely acceptable manner. The report presents various examples of different methods used by the cities. In Stockholm, State nominated rapporteurs have been deployed in transport system planning, which has enabled bold decisions. On the other hand, long-term planning would require acceptability across party lines and municipal boundaries as well as broad-based preparation. Helsinki, Oslo and recently also Gothenburg have sought wider commitment from the various parties already in the planning phase. This results in bigger compromises than negotiations carried out under a political mandate.
Focus on sustainable modes of transport
Transport system development goals have changed in all of the urban regions since the 1970s and 1980s. Earlier, good flow of traffic was the main goal. Since the 1990s, environmental aspects have gained importance. Nowadays a more coherent urban structure is promoted so that the need to travel decreases and the possibilities of public transport as well as walking and cycling improve. Employment and residential areas should be concentrated along good public transport links, rail links in particular.
Regional organization of public transport has been deemed important everywhere. However, the division of costs has been a challenge. According to the report, public transport should be jointly planned and organized throughout the expanding commuting area. While alleviating congestion on the urban road network was justified by the needs of business and industry and economic growth in the 1990s, in the 2000s accessibility by public transport is seen as a key factor for economic growth and regional competitiveness.
Restricting car traffic in city centers has been on the agenda in all Nordic urban regions. Motoring has been restricted, for example, by parking pricing and directing car traffic past or under city centers. The report recommends that pedestrian zones are further expanded and cycling conditions improved, in particular. For example, in the Copenhagen region, 56% of journeys are made on foot, by bike or public transport.
The studied urban regions are planning similar, large investment projects, such as downtown railway tunnels and rail links to airports. In Stockholm, Gothenburg and Oslo, road tolls have provided means to supplement the decreasing funding from the State and municipalities. Also the increasing value of land has been capitalized on in the funding of transport investments, for example, in the case of the Copenhagen metro.