Wissing criticizes federal states: coordinate positions better
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has demanded more clarity from the federal states on transport policy. "I call on the transport ministers of the federal states to better coordinate the positions they represent at the Conference of Transport Ministers within their state governments in future," the FDP politician told the German Press Agency in Mainz on Saturday.
"Both on the issue of financing the Deutschlandticket and the Road Traffic Act, the demands of the transport ministers often do not match the decisions of their own state governments," criticized Wissing. "This not only leads to uncertainty among citizens and local authorities, but also makes political and legislative processes extremely difficult."
A law on new road traffic regulations passed by the Bundestag and requiring approval failed to achieve the required majority in the Bundesrat on Friday. It provided for cities and municipalities to be given more leeway, for example to set up bus lanes and 30 km/h zones. "We wanted to give local authorities more room for maneuver on the ground," said Wissing afterwards. "However, this is obviously not what the federal states want."
The law also stipulated that, in addition to the fluidity and safety of traffic, climate and environmental protection, health and urban development objectives should also be taken into account. As it did not receive a majority, the Bundesrat removed an amendment to the Road Traffic Act based on it from the agenda.
It was envisaged that local authorities would also be able to set up "special lanes" to test climate-friendly mobility - for example for e-cars, hydrogen vehicles or cars with several occupants. There should also be more flexibility for residents' parking zones, bus lanes and cycle paths. It should be easier to set a 30 km/h speed limit, for example on stretches of road near playgrounds and school routes as well as in gaps between two 30 km/h zones, so that traffic flows more easily.
The Federal Council, comprising the transport ministers of each federal state, failed to reach a consensus on the proposed road traffic regulations, leading to the withdrawal of an amendment from the agenda. This discrepancy between federal and state positions often extends to issues such as financing the Deutschlandticket and setting traffic policies, causing confusion among municipalities responsible for implementing these plans.
Source: www.dpa.com
