Investment in Icelandic public transport
Public transport by land, air or sea should be viewed as one whole, according to the Minister. Photo: Hjörtur
Ólöf Nordal, Icelandic Minister for Home Affairs, has presented plans to invest ISK 112 billion (approx. €760 million) in public transport in 2015-18.
Speaking in the Icelandic Parliament (‘Alþingi’) on Friday, Nordal presented the Ministry of Home Affairs parliamentary resolution on public transport, hailing it as “realistic and prudent”. The resolution provides for Iceland’s public-transport budget to grow by 3% per year, in line with inflation forecasts.
Specific measures outlined in the new government plans include:
- ISK 95 billion (approx. €645 million) for road-network development;
- improving traffic flow in Greater Reykjavik;
- ISK 6 billion (approx. €40 million) for ports;
- reviewing various aspects of domestic-flight operations and airport management;
- reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
In her speech introducing the plans, Nordal described public transport as “one of the foundations of a strong economy and quality of life”, indicating that regions with the poorest public transport provision should be prioritised. The Minister also stressed the safety element, particularly as regards traffic, given the higher traffic levels associated with growing numbers of tourists.
Full details (in Icelandic) can be found here.
