mobility
Federal Audit Office calls for reform of public transport financing
Jungfernstieg underground station in Hamburg. Photo: Georg Wendt/dpa
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Local public transport is a state matter. But the federal government is co-financing. But where the money goes remains a mystery, the Federal Court of Auditors complains, and speaks of a “funding jungle”.
The Federal Court of Auditors sees a “funding jungle” in local public transport and has spoken out in favor of a fundamental financing reform.
The federal government gives billions in funds to the federal states for public transport, but it lacks an overview, said the President of the Federal Audit Office, Kay Scheller, on Tuesday. The Court of Auditors presented a special report on the use of federal funds for public transport.
According to Scheller, the “funding jungle” is becoming more and more opaque, transparency and the profitability of tax funds are falling by the wayside. A uniform public transport law would help ensure that the funds are used more effectively. Local public transport is becoming increasingly important against the background of efforts to improve climate protection.
Federal and state funding
Public transport is basically a task for the federal states. However, the federal government contributes to the financing with various instruments. Alone from legal regulations such as regionalization funds, around 11.6 billion euros were available for public transport in 2021. According to the Court of Auditors, the federal government does not have an overall view of the federal funds that benefit public transport. The previous increases in federal funds would not have resulted in the federal government’s goals for transport, environmental and climate protection being implemented economically and in a timely manner.
According to the report, the federal states contribute significantly less to public transport financing than the federal government. In addition, the federal states left federal funds unused to a large extent: “In practice, the federal states do not spend these funds entirely on public transport.”
required by public transport law
According to the Court of Auditors, there should be a public transport law for federal funds in the future. Federal funding must be “imperatively” linked to the states providing the basic funding for public transport “reliably”. Regular information to the federal government is essential.
The traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP wants to increase regionalization funds so that states and municipalities can improve the attractiveness and capacities of public transport. The coalition agreement also states that the federal, state and local governments should agree on funding, including the individual contributions of the states and local governments and the distribution of federal funds.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) is planning a special meeting with the federal states to strengthen public transport. “A strong and attractive public transport helps to reduce CO2 emissions in the long term,” he told the VRM newspapers. “My goal is therefore that we work with the federal states to develop a catalog of measures that we can implement specifically to make public transport more attractive.”