Transport System Work
Smooth, safe and sustainable mobility for both residents and business needs. This is the goal of the regional transport system work carried out jointly by actors in the region. The Regional Council of Southwest Finland is responsible for this work and for ensuring that transport development supports land use, growth and climate objectives.
The transport system of Southwest Finland is being developed in cooperation to ensure that mobility is smooth, safe and sustainable both in everyday life and for business needs. The work examines mobility across the entire region as a whole: different modes of transport, the transport network, services and their connection to regional development.
The Regional Council of Southwest Finland is responsible for coordinating transport system work. The objective is for transport development to support land use, regional growth and climate objectives, and to meet the needs of residents and businesses.
What does transport system work mean in practice?
The transport system consists of roads, railways, waterways, public transport, walking and cycling, as well as passenger and freight transport services. Transport system work is continuous cooperation in which these elements are developed together with various actors.
The work involves:
- identifying development needs for mobility and transport
- coordinating solutions for different modes of transport
- improving traffic safety and accessibility
- promoting sustainable forms of mobility
- agreeing on common objectives and measures
Who is involved?
The Regional Council of Southwest Finland leads regional transport system work as well as transport system work for the Turku MAL urban region. Participants in the cooperation include:
- municipalities of Southwest Finland
- Southwest Finland Business Development Centre
- public transport authorities
- other regional and national actors
Transport system work is closely linked to land use planning, such as regional planning, municipal planning and the urban region’s joint land use strategy.
Transport System Plan guides development
The Transport System Plan brings together the shared vision of regional actors on how transport in Southwest Finland will be developed in the long term. The plan identifies key development needs for residents and business, and agrees on the means by which these will be advanced in cooperation with the state, municipalities and other stakeholders. The most recent update of the Southwest Finland Transport System Plan was completed in February 2025. The plan serves as the foundation for transport system work, cooperation and decision-making in the region.
Connection to national and regional plans
Regional transport system work is linked to the national Transport 12 plan, which guides the development of Finland’s entire transport system over a 12-year timeframe. In Southwest Finland, the region’s own objectives are aligned with national guidelines, and regional needs are brought forward as part of national preparation. The Turku MAL Urban Region Transport System Plan was prepared in 2020 and will be updated in 2026–2027. In addition, Southwest Finland participates in the Southern Finland Transport Strategy, which has been prepared jointly with Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme and Kymenlaakso and was updated in May 2024.
What is a MAL agreement?
A MAL agreement is a contract between the state and an urban region that sets out a comprehensive approach to developing land use, housing, and transport. Its aim is to create a more coherent urban structure, promote sustainable modes of transport, and ensure sufficient and affordable housing production.
Through MAL agreements, the state and municipalities in the region commit to shared objectives and measures, and the state allocates funding through these agreements, for example for transport investments.
