Transport system plans

82

in or departing the Gulf of Finland. Ship traffic density is also high to the east of the Balticconnector gas pipeline, which would also be the location of the artificial islands planned in this project.

83 Figure 5-6. Modified from a

presenta-tion by the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council: International and region-al cooperation between cities and regions in the core network corridor, Merja Vikman-Kanerva 19^th of April 2018. (Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council 2018)

Rail Line, the Lentorata airport railway, the Kerava–Nikkilä railway and stage 2 of the improvement of the Pasila–Riihimäki railway section. In road traffic projects, the emphasis continues to be on the im-provement of the radial routes and the need for connecting the logistics routes in Central Uusimaa. After the plan was approved, at least the implementation of the Laajasalo railway connection has been brought forward due to the imple-mentation decision made by Helsinki in 2016. (HRT 2015)

The Helsinki–Tallinn tunnel has been identified as part of the provincial devel-opment corridor analysis for Southern Fin-land as an important, international trunk connection for passenger and freight traf-fic from the point of views of passenger traffic, regional economy, goods transport and land use profiling (Etelä-Suomen keh-ityskäytävät). The tunnel was also brought up in the Helsinki region’s transport sys-tem plan for 2015 as an open question related to the development of the regional transport system that would connect to the hubs of the current public transport system at both ends. (HRT 2015)

84

The Espoo traffic network plan from 2016 supplements the HLJ plan as re-gards Espoo’s own projects and spec-ifies the Espoo traffic network vision compiled in 2014 as regards the timing, costs and impacts of the actions. In the plan, the foundation for public transport in the short term consists of the West Metro to Kivenlahti, the Coastal Railway supplemented by the Espoo urban rail-way and the Jokeri Light Rail. The public transport projects proposed for launch by 2020 are Jokeri Light Rail and the pri-oritisation of trunk bus lines. In the longer term, tram solutions will be developed between the centre of Espoo, Matinky-lä, Tapiola and Leppävaara. In the target network for 2050, parking spaces have been planned for park-and-ride at met-ro stations; for example, 350 spaces are planned for Otaniemi and 150 spaces for Keilaniemi. (City of Espoo 2017, City of Espoo 2016)

The Helsinki transport development programme acts as an intermediate step between strategic programmes, mas-ter plan vision work and traffic planning activity management. For its part, the development programme substantiates the development guidelines agreed for the transport system development in the Helsinki Region Transport System Plan (HLJ). The transport development programme defines eight goals for the transport system in Helsinki. The goals are based on the strategic starting points mentioned above and they are divided

into three themes: smooth everyday op-eration, vitality and resource efficiency.

The Helsinki railway traffic network anal-ysis (RAVELI2) that serves the land use development vision and guides strate-gic planning was drawn up in 2015. The analysis found that the most cost-effec-tive option was the development of the above-ground rail network that can be completed in stages. (City of Helsinki 2014, City of Helsinki 2015)

The Vantaa traffic policy programme (VALO) has also been drawn up on the basis of the Helsinki Region Transport System Plan. Furthermore, goals have been set in accordance with the city’s strategic programme for 2013–2016 and other strategic programmes and regional plans. In terms of the transport system, Vantaa’s goal is to maintain re-gional centres connected by a function-al public transport system. According to the city, rail traffic plays a substantial role in the transport system. When choosing the different modes of transport, Vantaa aims at compact and effective land use, promotion of the city’s vitality and com-petitiveness and the reduction of harmful environmental impacts. Vantaa is draw-ing up a general plan for Jokeri Light Rail 3. Preparations are also being made for other railways: The master plan prepara-tion process is also examining a railway connection from Jumbo via Tammisto to-wards Helsinki and a line west from Pak-kala towards Myyrmäki. Preparations are also being made for replacing trunk line

560 with a railway connection. (City of Vantaa 2016, City of Vantaa 2018)

Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council is drawing up a new overall regional plan (Helsinki-Uusimaa Land Use Plan 2050).

A logistics analysis of the transport net-work in Southern Finland has also been prepared as part of this work (Helsin-ki-Uusimaa Regional Council 2017a).

Needs for future analysis have been brought up in connection with the logis-tics analysis. These include the need to analyse the impacts of a Helsinki–Tallinn tunnel on freight traffic and employment along traffic corridors. The development corridors from and to the Helsinki re-gion were profiled as part of the work on structural models for Uusimaa. The larg-er functional entities formed by the corri-dors create more competitive regions on the international market. Corridors allow cities and regions to expand their per-spective across municipal and provincial boarders. Large cities and sufficiently strong regional centres act as the hubs for the development corridors. Workforce mobility, commuting, and networks and common interests between companies and different organisations (especially institutions of learning and expertise) are brought out clearer than before. (Helsin-ki-Uusimaa Regional Council 2017b)

Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council has studied the significance and impacts of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in 2017. Helsin-ki-Vantaa Airport is important for the busi-ness and competitivebusi-ness of Uusimaa

85 Figure 5-7. Changes in numbers of tunnel and ferry passengers in 2015–2050,

taking into account the construction of the railway tunnel. Extract from the Fin-Est Link Feasibility Study report (FinFin-Est Link Feasibility study 2018)

and all of Finland. In practical terms, it is also the only international-scale airport in Finland. Therefore, the land use of the Hel-sinki region and the municipalities in the region must ensure that the prerequisites for the long-term development of the air-port are good. Estimates indicate that the capacity of the main railway will be full by 2040. The Lentorata airport railway will al-low long-distance trains to move from the main railway to their own rail connection.

At the same time, it allows for a direct na-tional railway connection to Helsinki-Van-taa Airport. Lentorata will also allow for a smooth train connection to the airport via Pasila. (Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Coun-cil 2017c)

According to the statements and opin-ions provided regarding the Helsinki re-gion’s MAL 2019 assessment programme draft at the end of 2017, the section con-cerning the regional transport system is emphasised in the impact assessment.

The statements and opinions also bring up the functionality of international and national connections for passenger and freight traffic and connecting the Helsin-ki region with other significant regions in Finland. A regional transport system that can accept the number of passengers pursuant to the goals is proposed as a goal for the planning. Furthermore, the MAL 2019 plan must consider the opera-bility of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, also from the point of view of logistics and industry.

The accessibility of the airport must be developed by offering more versatile

con-nections. Train connections should be made quicker in order to create a unified commuting area even outside of the im-mediate region. Good international con-nections were included in the MAL goals on the basis of the comments. (Helsinki Region Transport 2017, MAL 2019 SEA statements and opinions)