Difu study identifies backlog: Roads and public transport networks need 372 billion euros for refurbishment

Alarming inventory: The investment required for the maintenance and expansion of rail networks and roads in cities, districts, and municipalities by 2030 amounts to a total of around 372 billion euros. This is the result of a study by the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu), initiated by the German Construction Industry Federation, the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and ADAC. It identified the necessary needs for catch-up and replacement investments as well as the additional investment needs in municipal transport networks by 2030 for more climate protection in the transport sector.

Bridges in Need of Renovation and Public Transport Networks

Accordingly, one-third of the roads in cities, districts, and municipalities in Germany, totaling 714,000 km, have significant deficiencies. Almost every second road bridge in the municipalities is not in good condition, meaning bridges totaling almost 1,800 km (in total 3,600 km) are in need of renovation. The same applies to the public transport networks. This affects municipal road tunnels with almost 1,400 km in length as well as subway (approx. 900 km) and tram routes (6,320 km, of which 451 km are underground). Only one-third of the municipalities rate the condition of their existing route networks for all modes of transport as at least “good.” Public transport bridges and tunnels are comparatively better preserved: About two-thirds of them are either brand new or in good condition.

64 Billion Euros for Public Transport Infrastructure

With around 283 billion euros, the by far largest part is needed for the catch-up and replacement needs in the municipal road traffic infrastructure. In the public transport infrastructure, investments of 64 billion euros are needed by 2030. The majority of the anticipated expenditures in public transport will be for subway and city or tram routes in tunnels.

"We are talking about essential basic needs, about the mobility of citizens, connecting city and country. A healthy transport infrastructure is crucial for our society - and economy. Therefore, we need a transport plan for Germany that does not think in legislative periods and regional responsibilities, but that enables nationwide traffic," demanded Tim-Oliver Müller, CEO of the Construction Industry Federation.

The construction industry and their medium-sized companies are locally and regionally present, have the know-how and capacities to implement political and social goals.

"We build bridges and roads, waterways, the transport, climate and mobility transition – if we are allowed to build. Therefore, we need planning and project acceleration, which does not stop at approval and planning procedures," Müller further appealed.

Partnership models, flexible procurement laws - moving away from exclusive small-grant procurement towards a diversity of procurement models - are needed if we want to become faster and more productive. For VDV CEO Oliver Wolff, the study results present an alarming picture of the state of municipal transport infrastructure. The urban public transport networks are significantly smaller in scope than the municipal road networks. Therefore, the results of roads and public transport are quite comparable in their urgency.

"As a VDV, we have always emphasized that the desired increase in passengers and the shift to public transport will only work sustainably if the offer is attractive enough for people. This includes, in addition to the necessary expansion of the offer, especially good and efficient infrastructure," demanded Wolff.

For investments in public transport networks, there is a well-functioning federal program, the so-called Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG), for which there is currently a massive increase in registered projects. The annual GVFG funding will therefore no longer be sufficient from 2025, so an increase from 2 to initially 3 billion euros annually is considered necessary.

"Every one of our routes begins and ends on municipal transport networks, whether we are traveling as pedestrians, cyclists, by bus and train or car. The supply and disposal by truck or the accessibility for emergency services also depends on the integrity of municipal transport routes and bridges. A good condition of roads is also crucial for traffic safety, as potholes pose a significant fall risk for every two-wheeler and are not just a matter of comfort," stated Stefan Gerwens, Head of the ADAC Transport Department.

The study showed the necessity of significant investments in the maintenance of roads and in particular bridges, the catch-up and replacement demand is enormous. According to Gerwens, it is not just a matter of ensuring mobility in the long term but also of developing it sustainably, making it more attractive and safer, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.

"Municipalities should actively tackle the modernization of municipal transport networks on roads and rail with the support of the federal states, improving the condition and investing in adaptations," appealed Gerwens.