2024-06-182023/24:TU18 · p.2TUTransport & infrastructure

Infrastructure Planning

Infrastructure planning: forecast-driven or goal-driven process

What's at stake: The decision affects how billions of kronor in roads, railways and other transport investments are prioritised going forward, and whether climate targets or forecasts of rising traffic should determine which projects get built.

Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.

What the vote decides

The question is whether the established planning process for transport infrastructure - where action planning is based on traffic forecasts - should remain unchanged, or whether the government should instead direct the responsible agency to work in a goal-driven way with climate targets as the overriding principle.

Yes Yes — the committee proposal

The committee rejects the motions and upholds the planning process in place since 2012, under which the Riksdag decides roughly once per electoral period on strategic choices and financial frameworks based on the government's infrastructure bill, finding no reason to change this arrangement.

No No — the reservations

Reservation 2 (S, V, MP)

The reserving parties (S, V, MP) want the government to direct the Transport Administration to work in a goal-driven way instead of forecast-based, with climate targets as the overriding, steering principle, and to improve coordination in physical planning between local, regional and national levels, arguing that today's forecast-based model is not neutral between modes of transport.

Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.

VSMPCLKDMSD
YesNoAbstainAbsent

What do the votes mean here?

Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).

No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by S, V, MP.

Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.

What each plan points to — and how the party voted

For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.

PlanVoteConfidenceEvidence
Vown reservationNoNo 0/20/0/4follows the planconfidence: mediumderived
Sown reservationNoNo 0/93/0/13follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed
MPown reservationNoNo 0/15/0/3follows the planconfidence: highexplicit
CNoAbstain 0/0/21/3departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
LYesYes 13/0/0/3follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed
KDYesYes 16/0/0/3follows the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
MYesYes 60/0/0/8follows the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
SDYesYes 63/0/0/9follows the planconfidence: highexplicit

Committee proposal

The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:728 by Magnus Resare (M), 2023/24:969 by Camilla Brunsberg (M) demands 7 and 8, 2023/24:996 by Per Bolund et al. (MP) demand 35, 2023/24:1022 by Kalle Olsson and Anna-Caren Sätherberg (both S), 2023/24:1118 by Jan Ericson (M), 2023/24:1373 by Gudrun Brunegård (KD) demand 2, 2023/24:1519 by Elin Söderberg et al. (MP) demands 31 and 39, 2023/24:1676 by Mattias Jonsson and Johan Büser (both S) demand 2, 2023/24:2000 by Kristoffer Lindberg et al. (S) demand 2 in this part, 2023/24:2146 by Saila Quicklund (M), 2023/24:2345 by Linda W Snecker et al. (V) demand 5, 2023/24:2465 by Ulrika Heie et al. (C) demands 3 and 28, 2023/24:2625 by Gunilla Svantorp et al. (S) demand 17 and 2023/24:2897 by Linda W Snecker et al. (V) demands 1 and 2.

Original (Swedish)

Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:728 av Magnus Resare (M), 2023/24:969 av Camilla Brunsberg (M) yrkandena 7 och 8, 2023/24:996 av Per Bolund m.fl. (MP) yrkande 35, 2023/24:1022 av Kalle Olsson och Anna-Caren Sätherberg (båda S), 2023/24:1118 av Jan Ericson (M), 2023/24:1373 av Gudrun Brunegård (KD) yrkande 2, 2023/24:1519 av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 31 och 39, 2023/24:1676 av Mattias Jonsson och Johan Büser (båda S) yrkande 2, 2023/24:2000 av Kristoffer Lindberg m.fl. (S) yrkande 2 i denna del, 2023/24:2146 av Saila Quicklund (M), 2023/24:2345 av Linda W Snecker m.fl. (V) yrkande 5, 2023/24:2465 av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C) yrkandena 3 och 28, 2023/24:2625 av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S) yrkande 17 och 2023/24:2897 av Linda W Snecker m.fl. (V) yrkandena 1 och 2.

Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has considered a submission from the Government regarding the National Audit Office's report on a national plan for transport infrastructure. The National Audit Office's overall conclusion is that the investments in the national plan contribute to achieving the transport policy objectives but not in an efficient manner. In its submission, the Government welcomes the National Audit Office's audit and considers it an important contribution to the work of developing a new national plan. The Government is in the process of preparing a new infrastructure proposition in order to make a decision on a new national plan during 2026 and sees the National Audit Office's observations and recommendations as a basis in the continued process. The Riksdag laid the Government's submission on file, that is, concluded the matter. At the same time, the Riksdag rejected proposals in motions, of which approximately 380 are from the general motion period 2023. The proposals concern, for example, infrastructure planning, starting points for planning, measures in the infrastructure, and financing and efficiency issues. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the ongoing work on developing a new national plan for transport infrastructure.

Counter-proposals

Plan vs actual vote

Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.

VVänsterpartietNoNofollows the planderived

The election manifesto establishes that the transition must happen immediately and that all political decisions must take into account the acute climate crisis, and requires strengthened governance based on new, stricter climate targets.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto establishes that the transition must happen immediately and that all political decisions must take into account the acute climate crisis, and requires strengthened governance based on new, stricter climate targets. The counter-proposal's demand for target-based governance with the climate target as an overarching principle is exactly such governance. The plan also wants to direct heavy transport to rail and see coordinated transport planning, which a forecast-based and non-transport-mode-neutral model works against.

Original (Swedish)

Valplattformen slår fast att omställningen måste ske omgående och att alla politiska beslut ska ta hänsyn till den akuta klimatkrisen, samt kräver stärkt styrning utifrån nya, skärpta klimatmål. Motförslagets krav på målstyrning med klimatmålet som överordnad princip är just en sådan styrning. Planen vill dessutom styra tunga transporter till järnväg och se en sammanhållen transportplanering, vilket en prognosbaserad och icke transportslagsneutral modell motverkar.

  • climate crisis governs all decisionsdecisive»Omställningen behöver ske omgående och alla politiska beslut behöver ta hänsyn till den akuta kris som vi befinner oss i.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The transition needs to happen immediately and all political decisions need to take into account the acute crisis we are in.”
  • governance based on stricter climate targets»Investeringar i grön teknik, industri och infrastruktur, utbyggd energikapacitet och stärkt styrning utifrån nya, skärpta klimatmål behövs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Investments in green technology, industry and infrastructure, expanded energy capacity and strengthened governance based on new, stricter climate targets are needed.”
  • freight to rail»Tunga transporter behöver styras till järnväg och hållbar sjöfart.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Heavy transport needs to be directed to rail and sustainable shipping.”
  • coordinated transport planning»en sammanhållen strategi för elektrifiering av transporterna, där stadsplanering, kollektivtrafik och elfordon alla har viktiga roller att spela.« (party programme ↗)“a coordinated strategy for electrifying transport, where urban planning, public transport and electric vehicles all have important roles to play.”
SSocialdemokraternaNoNofollows the plannot addressed

The plan makes clear that the climate policy framework shall hold firm and the party programme that transport systems shall be reformed towards public transport, railways and shipping and that urban development shall become transport-efficient.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan makes clear that the climate policy framework shall hold firm and the party programme that transport systems shall be reformed towards public transport, railways and shipping and that urban development shall become transport-efficient. Goal-directed planning with climate goals as an overriding principle is an application of this. At the same time the plan warns against blaming those who need the car in large parts of the country, which makes the support conditional and the conclusion uncertain.

Original (Swedish)

Planen slår fast att det klimatpolitiska ramverket ska ligga fast och partiprogrammet att transportsystemen ska läggas om mot kollektivtrafik, järnväg och sjöfart och att stadsbyggandet ska bli transportsnålt. Målstyrd planering med klimatmålen som överordnad princip är en tillämpning av detta. Samtidigt varnar planen för att skuldbelägga dem som behöver bilen i stora delar av landet, vilket gör stödet villkorat och slutsatsen osäker.

  • firm climate frameworkdecisive»Det klimatpolitiska ramverket ska ligga fast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The climate policy framework shall hold firm.”
  • reformed transport system»Transportsystemen ska läggas om för mer gång-, cykel- och kollektivtrafik« (party programme ↗)“Transport systems shall be reformed towards more walking, cycling and public transport”
  • transport-efficient planning»framtidsinriktat stadsbyggande som skapar integrerade, variationsrika och transportsnåla« (party programme ↗)“future-directed urban development that creates integrated, varied and transport-efficient”
  • climate policy for ordinary people»Klimatkrisen kan aldrig lösas med att skuldbelägga människor som behöver ta bilen till affären« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The climate crisis can never be solved by blaming people who need to take the car to the shops”
MPMiljöpartietNoNofollows the planexplicit

The party programme explicitly says that climate targets shall steer investments in infrastructure, which is exactly the counter-proposal's requirement for target-based steering with the climate target as the overarching principle instead of forecast-based planning.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The party programme explicitly says that climate targets shall steer investments in infrastructure, which is exactly the counter-proposal's requirement for target-based steering with the climate target as the overarching principle instead of forecast-based planning. The plan also requires that climate-damaging investments that increase private car use and truck traffic are rejected in favor of rail, which addresses the objection about lack of transport mode neutrality. A climate policy framework with binding caps reinforces the same conclusion.

Original (Swedish)

Partiprogrammet säger uttryckligen att klimatmålen ska styra investeringarna i infrastruktur, vilket är exakt motförslagets krav på målstyrning med klimatmålet som överordnad princip i stället för prognosbaserad planering. Planen kräver också att klimatskadliga investeringar som ökar privatbilism och lastbilstrafik väljs bort till förmån för järnväg, vilket träffar invändningen om bristande transportslagsneutralitet. Ett klimatpolitiskt ramverk med bindande tak förstärker samma slutsats.

  • climate targets steer investmentsdecisive»Klimatskadliga subventioner ska fasas ut och klimatmålen ska styra investeringarna i infrastruktur.« (party programme ↗)“Climate-damaging subsidies shall be phased out and climate targets shall steer investments in infrastructure.”
  • rail before road»Klimatskadliga investeringar som ökar privatbilism och lastbilstrafik ska väljas bort till förmån för ökade järnvägsinvesteringar.« (party programme ↗)“Climate-damaging investments that increase private car use and truck traffic shall be rejected in favor of increased rail investments.”
  • binding climate caps»För att klara klimatmålen krävs ett klimatpolitiskt ramverk med bindande tak för vår klimatpåverkan såväl i Sverige som internationellt.« (party programme ↗)“To meet climate targets requires a climate policy framework with binding caps on our climate impact both in Sweden and internationally.”
  • emissions budget as a steering tool»ta fram en svensk utsläppsbudget som gör att vi når klimatmålen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“develop a Swedish emissions budget that enables us to reach climate targets.”
CCenterpartietNoAbstaindeparts from the plannot addressed

The election manifesto puts climate first and requires that transport emissions are gone and that new emission-free infrastructure is put in place, which in substance is letting climate goals drive infrastructure choices rather than traffic forecasts.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto puts climate first and requires that transport emissions are gone and that new emission-free infrastructure is put in place, which in substance is letting climate goals drive infrastructure choices rather than traffic forecasts. The manifesto also requires that state authorities cooperate and work efficiently with land when land is taken into use, which corresponds to the requirement for better coordination between planning levels. That the plan at the same time wants to upgrade rural roads limits but does not cancel the support.

Original (Swedish)

Valmanifestet sätter klimatet först och kräver att transporternas utsläpp ska bort och att ny utsläppsfri infrastruktur kommer på plats, vilket i sak är att låta klimatmålen styra infrastrukturvalen snarare än trafikprognoser. Manifestet kräver också att statliga myndigheter samverkar och arbetar marksnålt när mark tas i anspråk, vilket motsvarar kravet på bättre samordning mellan planeringsnivåerna. Att planen samtidigt vill rusta upp landsbygdens vägar begränsar men upphäver inte stödet.

  • zero-emission transport systemdecisive»Transporternas utsläpp ska bort och ny utsläppsfri infrastruktur ska komma på plats.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Transport emissions must be gone and new emission-free infrastructure must be put in place.”
  • climate first»Centerpartiet sätter klimatet först, för att framtiden måste vara grön.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Centerpartiet puts climate first, because the future must be green.”
  • coordinated state planning»Statliga myndigheter måste samverka och arbeta marksnålt när man tar ny mark i anspråk för väg, tåg, el, etc.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“State authorities must cooperate and work efficiently with land when taking new land into use for road, railway, electricity, etc.”
  • better rural roads»Landsbygden behöver bättre vägar och bättre tillgång till cykelvägar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Rural areas need better roads and better access to cycle paths.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

LLiberalernaYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The plan wishes to meet climate targets within the framework of a growing economy and steers emissions through general means: each transport mode shall bear its climate costs.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan wishes to meet climate targets within the framework of a growing economy and steers emissions through general means: each transport mode shall bear its climate costs. To make the climate target a superordinate and guiding principle in infrastructure planning is a different kind of steering than the plan advocates, and the plan warns against symbolic politics. That public transport should be given more room in cities with environmental problems, however, lies close to the counter-proposal.

Original (Swedish)

Planen vill nå klimatmålen inom ramen för en växande ekonomi och styr utsläppen med generella medel: varje transportslag ska bära sina klimatkostnader. Att göra klimatmålet till överordnad och styrande princip i infrastrukturplaneringen är en annan sorts styrning än den planen förordar, och planen varnar för symbolpolitik. Att kollektivtrafik bör ges större utrymme i städer med miljöproblem ligger däremot nära motförslaget.

  • climate targets in growing economydecisive»Vi ska nå klimatmålen – inga nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser senast 2045 och därefter negativa utsläpp – inom ramen för en växande ekonomi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall meet climate targets—no net greenhouse-gas emissions by 2045 and thereafter negative emissions—within the framework of a growing economy.”
  • transport modes bear climate costs»Beroendet av fossila bränslen måste brytas och alla transportslag måste stå för sina« (party programme ↗)“Dependence on fossil fuels must be broken and all transport modes must bear their”
  • distance from symbolic politics»Liberal miljöpolitik tar avstånd från symbolpolitik« (party programme ↗)“Liberal environmental policy distances itself from symbolic politics”
  • public transport before private cars»I städer med trängsel- eller miljöproblem bör nyttotrafik och kollektivtrafik ges större utrymme på« (party programme ↗)“In cities with congestion or environmental problems, utility traffic and public transport should be given more room for”
KDKristdemokraternaYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The election manifesto prioritizes a billion-krona investment in neglected roads across the country instead of expensive high-speed trains and establishes that climate transition shall occur in a way that both works and is efficient.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto prioritizes a billion-krona investment in neglected roads across the country instead of expensive high-speed trains and establishes that climate transition shall occur in a way that both works and is efficient. The party programme states that policy instruments shall stimulate the most economically and environmentally efficient transportation systems and that each mode of transport shall bear its own economic costs. The counter-proposal's demand that the climate goal be a dominant and guiding principle in planning sets a single goal ahead of the economic assessment the plan is based on. Therefore, the plan speaks against the demand.

Original (Swedish)

Valmanifestet prioriterar en miljardsatsning på eftersatta vägar i hela landet framför dyra höghastighetståg och slår fast att klimatomställningen ska ske på ett sätt som både fungerar och är effektivt. Principprogrammet anger att styrmedlen ska stimulera de samhällsekonomiskt och miljömässigt mest effektiva kommunikationssystemen och att varje transportslag ska bära sina egna samhällsekonomiska kostnader. Motförslagets krav att klimatmålet ska vara överordnad och styrande princip i planeringen sätter ett enskilt mål före den samhällsekonomiska avvägning planen bygger på. Planen talar därför emot kravet.

  • roads before high-speed trainsdecisive»Miljardsatsning för att rusta eftersatta vägar i hela landet - istället för att bygga dyra höghastighetståg.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Billion-krona investment to upgrade neglected roads across the country—instead of building expensive high-speed trains.”
  • economic efficiency governs»ska utformas så att de samhällsekonomiskt och miljömässigt mest effektiva kommunikationssystemen stimuleras« (party programme ↗)“shall be designed so that the most economically and environmentally efficient transportation systems are stimulated”
  • efficient climate transition»Sverige är världsledande i klimatomställningen och det ska vi fortsätta vara på ett sätt som både fungerar och är effektivt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden is a world leader in climate transition and we shall continue to be so in a way that both works and is efficient.”
  • transport modes bear their own costs»Målet ska vara att respektive transportslag bär sina egna samhällsekonomiska« (party programme ↗)“The goal shall be that each mode of transport bears its own economic”
MModeraternaYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The plan wants the transport sector to be transformed through electrification and the car to be affordable throughout the country, with reduced fuel prices and repaired roads.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan wants the transport sector to be transformed through electrification and the car to be affordable throughout the country, with reduced fuel prices and repaired roads. To make climate goals superior and guiding principle for infrastructure planning would subordinate accessibility and costs to a single goal. The plan moreover warns against climate policy that becomes expensive symbolic politics.

Original (Swedish)

Planen vill att transportsektorn ställs om genom elektrifiering och att bilen ska vara överkomlig i hela landet, med sänkta bränslepriser och lagade vägar. Att göra klimatmålen överordnad och styrande princip för infrastrukturplaneringen skulle underordna framkomlighet och kostnader ett enda mål. Planen varnar dessutom för klimatpolitik som blir dyrbar symbolpolitik.

  • transformation through electrificationdecisive»Vår politik syftar därför till att ställa om transportsektorn genom elektrifiering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our policy therefore aims to transform the transport sector through electrification.”
  • the car shall be affordable»Där du som behöver åka en bit för att skjutsa dina barn till fotbollsträningen eller musikskolan har råd att ta bilen, oavsett om den går på bensin eller el.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where you who need to drive to take your children to football practice or music school can afford to take the car, whether it runs on gasoline or electricity.”
  • accessibility is prioritized»Laga Sveriges vägar så att du kan komma fram säkert och i tid« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Repair Sweden's roads so you can get there safely and in time”
  • no symbolic climate policy»Klimatpolitiken får aldrig reduceras till dyrbar symbolpolitik eller snäv klimatnationalism.« (party programme ↗)“Climate policy must never be reduced to expensive symbolic politics or narrow climate nationalism.”
SDSverigedemokraternaYesYesfollows the planexplicit

The plan states that evidence, results and Swedish competitiveness should guide the implementation of climate goals rather than the desire to go first and furthest, and that all transport modes are needed.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan states that evidence, results and Swedish competitiveness should guide the implementation of climate goals rather than the desire to go first and furthest, and that all transport modes are needed. The counter-proposal's requirement for target-driven planning with climate goals as the overriding and guiding principle makes exactly the climate goal the benchmark for infrastructure, which the plan regards as symbolism that hits the business community and ordinary people's daily lives.

Original (Swedish)

Planen slår fast att evidens, resultat och svensk konkurrenskraft ska styra genomförandet av klimatmål snarare än viljan att gå först och längst, och att samtliga transportslag behövs. Motförslagets krav på målstyrd planering med klimatmålen som överordnad och styrande princip gör just klimatmålet till rättesnöre för infrastrukturen, vilket planen betraktar som symbolpolitik som slår mot näringsliv och vanliga människors vardag.

  • evidence before climate goalsdecisive»Evidens, resultat och svensk konkurrenskraft ska styra genomförandet av klimatmål i högre utsträckning än politikers vilja att gå först och längst.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Evidence, results and Swedish competitiveness should guide the implementation of climate goals to a greater extent than politicians' desire to go first and furthest.”
  • all transport modes needed»Sverigedemokraterna anser att samtliga transportslag, inklusive bil och flyg, är viktiga för att samhället ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“the Sweden Democrats believe that all transport modes, including cars and aeroplanes, are important for society to function.”
  • stop symbolism»Stoppa symbolpolitik som går ut över möjligheten att bedriva industri och näring« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop symbolism that impacts the ability to conduct industry and business”
  • everyday needs guide»anser att infrastrukturpolitiken i högre grad bör utgå från vanliga människors behov och vardag« (2022 manifesto ↗)“believes that infrastructure policy should to a greater degree be based on ordinary people's needs and daily lives”

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Sources and documents

Documents under consideration

Source: The Swedish Parliament