SPD on transport

The SPD's long-term goal is local public transit without fares. As a next step, it wants to introduce a 365-euro annual ticket for young people and invest more than two billion euros in local transit over ten years.

The SPD wants buses and trains to be free one day. First, there will be a ticket for 365 euros a year. It is for students, apprentices and volunteers. The state should put a lot of money into buses and trains.

The 365-euro ticket is to come in the next legislative term and ease costs for school students, apprentices and people doing voluntary service. The investment of more than two billion euros is to go into services, new lines and vehicles, alternative drive systems, ticket prices and digitalization. The SPD wants to top up additional federal funds with state money. By 2030, the share of public transit and cycling is to double. Also planned are a competence center for digital fares and tickets and the expansion of the Saarfahrplan app into a platform for mobility services.

The SPD wants to develop the regional rail network into an S-Bahn (commuter rail) network with more frequent service and reopen disused lines. Public transit is meant to become an alternative to the car, supported by more buses and better long-distance connections.

The SPD wants more trains and buses in Saarland. Regional trains should become a commuter rail network. Old rail lines should be used again. On main lines, a train should run every 15 minutes.

The core network is to run every fifteen minutes, and at off-peak times and in outlying areas there should be at least one train an hour. The state bus network is to grow with Plusbus services on weekends and with express buses. The SPD demands additional long-distance connections from the federal government and seeks a direct rail link to Luxembourg. Battery-electric trains and emission-free buses are to make transport more climate-friendly, and more than 170 million euros will go into stations by 2030 together with Deutsche Bahn. Companies are to receive subsidies to shift freight to rail, and the party wants a broad debate on how public transit is organized.

The SPD wants to repair roads and bridges through an investment program. New roads are to be built only where they clearly benefit the economy, are compatible with the environment and improve towns and villages.

The SPD wants to fix broken roads and bridges. New roads should be rare. They must help the economy a lot. They must not harm the environment and should make towns better.

The program considers a capable road network necessary for passenger travel as well as for freight, autonomous vehicles and alternative drive systems. The repair effort is called "Gute Straßen für das Saarland" (Good Roads for Saarland). New construction must meet three conditions: a decisive economic benefit, compatibility with the environment and an improvement for cities and villages.

The SPD wants to raise cycling's share of traffic from two to ten percent by 2030. At least 100 million euros are to go into bike paths over ten years, and municipalities are to get help redesigning street space.

The SPD wants more people to ride bikes. By 2030, ten percent of all trips should be by bike. Today it is two percent. Many new bike paths should be built for this.

When rural roads are upgraded, bike paths are to be built at the same time, and the cycling plan will be updated with a focus on everyday trips. Municipalities get support for mobility plans, their own bike paths, bike parking and pilot projects; a working group of bike-friendly municipalities is planned. As a flagship project, the program names a fast cycle route from Völklingen via the Saarbrücken universities to St. Ingbert. Transit stops are to become mobility hubs with park and ride, bike and ride, charging points and car sharing, with a central contact point advising municipalities. In rural areas, funding programs are to enable on-demand services such as ride pooling.

The SPD supports changing road traffic law so that municipalities can more easily set 30 km/h limits in built-up areas. Alongside smooth and safe traffic, climate, environment, health and urban development are to count in the future.

The SPD wants to change road traffic rules. Towns should be able to set a 30 km/h limit more easily. The rules should also consider climate, environment and health. Until now, they mainly look at traffic flow and safety.

The party considers changes to the Road Traffic Act and the Road Traffic Regulations necessary. It backs the federal government's goals on this issue. Climate and environmental protection, health and urban development are to become additional aims of traffic law. Decisions on 30 km/h limits within towns are to rest more with municipalities.

The SPD wants to secure Saarbrücken Airport and maintain reliable flight connections. It regards the airport as an indispensable asset for business, science and tourism in the state.

The SPD wants to keep the airport in Saarbrücken. Planes should keep flying from there reliably. The SPD says the airport matters for companies, research and tourists.

The program describes the airport as Saarland's link to the world. It says the airport contributes to growth and employment. The SPD wants to ensure that it can hold its own against competitors and continues to offer reliable connections.

The SPD wants to keep expanding public transit across the borders and introduce a joint ticketing system. It will examine a shared transit operator for the Greater Region and better connections between cities. Renewable energy and research are also to be promoted across borders.

The SPD wants more buses and trains across the border. One ticket should work in the whole Greater Region. Cities should be better connected. Green power should also be expanded together with the neighbors.

Better connections between Metz, Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, Trier, Luxembourg and Strasbourg are to be examined. According to the platform, the aim is to connect people better and encourage encounters. On energy, the SPD names decentralized supply and energy distribution alongside renewable sources. Joint research on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the hydrogen and digital economy is also to be funded.