Woidke praises agreement on faster planning for rail projects
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) considers the agreement between the federal and state governments to speed up the planning of rail projects to be crucial on the way to greater climate protection. "I am very pleased that the initiative by Brandenburg and Berlin to speed up rail projects is making further progress," Woidke told the German Press Agency on Monday. It is an important part of the package for faster planning and approval agreed by the Conference of Minister Presidents.
"In future, the fundamental assumption of an overriding public interest in terms of climate protection and services of general interest will be enshrined in law for the expansion, new construction and replacement of rail infrastructure," emphasized the head of government. In addition, the appeal process for rail projects with a planning approval decision should be bundled at the Federal Administrative Court. "These are two important points for me in order to finally make progress with climate-friendly transportation."
The federal and state governments have decided to speed up planning and approval procedures. This should enable wind turbines, power lines, railroad lines and housing to be built more quickly. The heads of government of the federal states and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) agreed on an acceleration pact in Berlin on Monday evening.
In September, the Bundesrat voted in favor of introducing a bill from the states of Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony to the Bundestag to speed up the expansion of railroad lines.
The Federal Government and the Federal states have agreed to faster planning and approval procedures for rail projects, recognizing the overriding public interest in climate protection and services of general interest. This decision by the Federal Government and the Federal states aligns with the initiative by Brandenburg and Berlin to speed up rail projects, which is now gaining traction.
Source: www.dpa.com
