Minister of Finance promises state funding for planned Espoo Metro extension

Eero Heinäluoma

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Minister of Finance Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) told Helsingin Sanomat on Monday that the government could share in the cost of the western extension of the Helsinki Metro up to around one third of the total investment costs, should the City of Espoo decide to go ahead with the plans.
      "No definitive decisions have been made, nor can they be made, until the City of Espoo has given the green light to the undertaking. However, I imagine the government's input could be up to 30 percent of the cost of the Metro extension", Heinäluoma predicts.
      The state input in the overhead of constructing the Helsinki Metro was also a third. The state also covered a third of the cost of planning the Espoo public transportation model and its environmental impact assessment (YVA).
     
The City of Espoo is preparing to decide on the future of public transportation in its southern areas during this spring. The likeliest alternatives are a subterranean extension of the Helsinki Metro or an overground light rail option.
      The YVA study maintains that the underground Metro extension would be the most expensive, but also the fastest and the most passenger-friendly and environment-friendly option.
      "Research and expert opinions confirm that the Metro would be the most viable alternative operation-wise, but also from the point of view of passenger comfort", Heinäluoma says.
     
According to the YVA calculations, the cost of the Metro extension would be in the region of EUR 452 million in total. The price tag for the overground light rail, in turn, would be around EUR 214 million.
      Should the Metro be chosen, Espoo would pay EUR 200 million in construction costs, and Helsinki would take on around EUR 100 million. The state would more or less pick up the tab for the remaining third of the total expenses.
      Heinäluoma insists that other planned transport undertakings in the capital area, such as the improvement of the Kehä III outer ring road or the construction of the so-called Marja-rata railway link to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, are not competing for state funds with the Espoo Metro plans.
      "I do not see these projects as adversaries. The state can assist in funding any proposal where a decision has already been reached on the municipal level", Heinäluoma affirms.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Metro and light rail seen as best options for Espoo transport (17.1.2006)

Links:
  Marja-rata (.pdf file)

Helsingin Sanomat