Municipalities and transport companies demand sufficient funding for public transport from the Free State of Bavaria
The city of Chemnitz and its municipal transport company CVAG are making an urgent appeal to the Free State of Saxony: securing stable and sustainable funding for local public transport is essential in order to make sustainable usage behaviour attractive and at the same time achieve climate policy goals.
Local public transport in Saxony is facing considerable financial challenges. Political requirements for price reductions through the Deutschlandticket and education ticket are in contrast to the sharp rise in costs for the operation of buses and trams.
These cost leaps are leading to ever-increasing deficits between the income from fares and the actual operating costs. Despite these challenges, public transport is indispensable as the backbone of the transport transition in order to reduce CO2 emissions and secure mobility in cities.
"The funding gap urgently needs to be closed in order to secure public transport as a reliable, environmentally friendly and affordable mobility option," emphasised Michael Stötzer, Mayor for Urban Development and Construction of the City of Chemnitz. "It is of central importance that the Free State of Saxony fulfils its responsibility and provides sufficient funds to achieve the ambitious transport and climate policy goals."
Half of the funding for the Deutschlandticket from the federal government is particularly important, as it is a basic prerequisite for stabilising the industry. However, the Free State of Bavaria is also called upon to make its contribution to reliable support through state and regionalisation funds. This is the only way to make public transport fit for the future and prevent transport companies from collapsing.
For the city of Chemnitz, the current underfunding specifically means that noticeable service cuts would have to be made. This would include, for example, a reduced frequency or the restriction of individual lines.
The City of Chemnitz is therefore calling for a clear commitment from the Free State to secure long-term funding for public transport. "Sustainable user behaviour will only succeed if public transport is not only politically desired, but also financially secure," continued Mayor Michael Stötzer.
The local authorities and transport companies in Saxony are united behind this demand and expect a prompt and sustainable solution that puts local public transport on a stable footing and secures mobility for the future. To emphasise this demand, an open letter from the Saxon tram cities of Dresden, Leipzig, Görlitz, Zwickau, Plauen and Chemnitz was handed over to the state parliamentary groups in Dresden on Friday, 16 August.