High-performance, digitized transportation networks for all modes of transport, equipped with innovative technologies, are crucial for future viability. This includes the ramp-up of demand-driven, technology-neutral expansion of charging and refueling infrastructure for all modes of transport. The upgrading and nationwide expansion of roads, railways, and waterways—including ports and transshipment terminals—remain essential for securing Germany’s position as an industrial hub. Germany must drive forward investment programs and implement them much more quickly than before through accelerated planning and permitting processes—for example, by increasing staffing levels in government agencies.

World-class physical and digital transportation infrastructure can make a significant contribution to ensuring that German companies in the mobility sector maintain their leading global positions, that export-oriented industry retains efficient connections to all global markets, and that economic growth continues to be driven forward ambitiously. In Europe, the mobility sector connects 27 economies and 450 million people who want to be mobile every day, consume goods, and contribute to value creation. Thanks to a reliable infrastructure and a sustainable transportation sector, all regions would be interconnected, and all industrial locations throughout Europe would remain competitive. Furthermore, due to tremendous technological advancements, greenhouse gas emissions per metric ton-kilometer and per passenger-kilometer have fallen significantly over the past 30 years. With ambitious investment programs and secure planning horizons, emissions in the transportation sector can be further reduced—for example, by shifting freight transport to rail and inland waterways. Furthermore, better charging and refueling infrastructure, the use of alternative fuels, efficiency improvements, and the avoidance of capacity bottlenecks could increase general acceptance of the necessary shift in propulsion systems and fuels in transportation.

What needs to be done?

• Sustain and realign investments in transportation infrastructure: The federal government must maintain investments in federal transportation infrastructure at approximately 18 billion euros per year and provide a total of approximately 70 billion euros through 2025. The development of the necessary charging and refueling infrastructure, as well as digitization needs, requires an increase in funding of a similar magnitude.
• Accelerate planning and permitting procedures: For example, through enabling legislation, transportation projects of overarching importance must be decided directly by the legislature without protracted court proceedings. After all, weighing the pros and cons of a project and balancing competing interests belongs in parliament, not in courtrooms.
• Increasing efficiency: State authorities and courts must be provided with sufficient staff, duplicate review processes must be eliminated, and more deadline-based regulations must be introduced. This means that changes in framework conditions that arise only after planning documents have been submitted should not provide grounds for legal action before the administrative courts.