Financing of the motorway company should be strengthened

The financing of the federally owned Autobahn GmbH is to be strengthened. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Transport is planning a reform. In the future, Autobahn GmbH will be able to take out loans and thereby expand its financial scope. This emerges from a draft law that is available to the German Press Agency. The Ministry of Transport wants to implement a project from the coalition agreement.

To date, Autobahn GmbH has been financed from the federal budget. However, the company is always dependent on the respective cash situation. The draft law states that roads will continue to be the mode of transport with by far the highest volume of traffic in the future. To do this, they need “reliable and sustainable” financing.

New earmarking for toll revenue

A three-pillar model consisting of budget resources, user financing and private capital is now planned. Autobahn GmbH should have “limited creditworthiness” – that means it should be able to take out loans and issue bonds in the future. This is intended to expand Autobahn GmbH’s financing options. In addition, a significant portion of the revenue from the truck toll will go to Autobahn GmbH in the future. A volume of around five billion euros is planned. The new financial architecture is scheduled to be implemented at the beginning of 2028.

Investments in federal highways have increased continuously in recent years, according to the draft law. “Nevertheless, there are still significant challenges in resolving the increasing need for renovation.” In the coming years, many dilapidated bridges will need to be renovated and roads repaired. The Federal Ministry of Transport sees billions in financial gaps for the expansion and construction of motorways.

BUND: Renovation before new construction

“If the law passes the cabinet, it must be clear that loans will not be wasted on the construction of new highways,” said Verena Graichen, managing director of politics at the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation. Rather, the use of funds to maintain bridges and roads must be stipulated in law. “This is the only way the law can be in harmony with nature and climate protection.”

Graichen criticized the fact that financing planning for highways should in future be carried out by Autobahn GmbH and no longer by the Federal Ministry of Transport. “Such a shift into the private law area would remove the planning from state control and massively reduce opportunities for public participation.”

(fpi)