Transport

ELY Centres are responsible for the following tasks:

Road maintenance

The main aim of road maintenance is to keep roads usable every day and ensure that traffic can flow safely. ELY Centres are responsible for maintaining a total of 78,000 km of roads plus adjoining structures, bus stops and road lighting. Road maintenance has been outsourced to companies operating on the open markets. 

In winter, the main road maintenance tasks are snowploughing, gritting and keeping road surfaces even.

Summer maintenance includes pavement maintenance, repairs of gravel roads and bridges and care of the traffic environment.

Road projects

The aim of road improvements and road construction is to facilitate mobility, keep the transport network up to date, improve traffic safety and make the traffic environment more pleasant. In addition to traffic arteries, road construction projects also involve the building of bridges, tunnels, junctions, traffic guidance systems and road lighting. Environment is an important consideration in all aspects of road maintenance. Measures to reduce noise levels and protect groundwater are in the form of thematic projects or are carried out as part of large projects.

ELY Centres order road planning and construction projects from specialist companies.

Transport system management

The transport system comprises traffic arteries intended for different modes of transport, the adjoining structures, and passenger and freight traffic. ELY Centres are actively involved in the development of traffic systems in their regions, co-operating with regional councils, municipalities and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency.

Preparation of transport system plans is an important part of transport system management.  In co-operation with other partners, ELY Centres examine how the transport system should be developed and how the challenges facing the system can be solved. Transport system management involves the examination of the present state of the transport system, determination of the future transport networks and decisions on how they should be developed on the basis of national and regional targets.

Public transport

Together with other players, ELY Centres are responsible for the availability of public transport services and for helping to create a basis for a smoothly functioning public transport system. ELY Centres are responsible for the procurement, licence administration, planning and funding tasks concerning road-based public transport. 

The transport services coming under ELY Centres are based on the operating agreements concluded in accordance with the Public Transport Act, which are supplemented by services purchased on the basis of purchasing and licence agreements. In addition to agreement-based services, ELY Centres may also grant route licences and demand-responsive transport service licences to transport providers operating on market terms. ELY Centres also promote the use of public transport by funding city tickets, regional tickets and commuting tickets and by granting government assistance to municipalities for local services, deviated fixed route services and public transport development projects.

ELY Centres also provide the physical basis for smoothly functioning public transport services. This includes bus stops and bus stop shelters outside built areas plus the necessary fittings, feeder areas, public transport lanes and traffic light priority systems and their maintenance. The needs of public transport are a consideration in all transport planning. 

Public transport services level

Under section 14(1) of the Public Transport Act, ELY Centres have an obligation to define the public transport service level in areas coming under them.

Service levels are defined in co-operation with municipalities and regional councils. The service level requirement is in effect for a specific period. 

The definition of the public transport service level serves as a basis for decisions concerning the manner in which public transport services are organised.  The service levels are also taken into account when permit applications for scheduled services are considered.

Island traffic

All matters concerning road and commuter ferries in Finland are the responsibility of the Southwest Finland ELY Centre.  It is responsible for 41 ferries, most of which operate in the Turku archipelago and the lake regions of Eastern Finland, and for services on 12 commuter ferry routes.  The Southwest Finland ELY Centre also supports private ferry services and commuter ferry services in the Sipoo and Raasepori archipelago and in the Turku archipelago ring road.

Traffic safety

ELY Centres promote traffic safety by means of road maintenance and in co-operation with such bodies as Liikenneturva, the police and municipalities. Responsibility for traffic safety lies with those responsible for the development of the traffic system and road users. 

The risk of traffic accidents is lowered and the consequences of accidents are mitigated by improving the traffic environment and by maintaining a system of speed limits.  ELY Centres improve the traffic environment by such measures as the construction of median barriers and bicycle and pedestrian paths. The traffic safety vision is that nobody should die or be seriously injured in traffic.   Improving traffic safety is one of the main aims of the ELY Centres. 

Transport permits and licences

ELY Centres steer actors operating in the road areas and their vicinity by means of permit decisions and agreements and by issuing opinions.  ELY Centres also grant transport permits and private road subsidies.  Road users may also claim damages for traffic accidents resulting from inadequate road maintenance.

ELY Centres grant permits and licences for a broad range of purposes, including the connecting of private roads to highways, work carried in the road area, roadside advertising, signposts, temporary road closures and taxi and public transport services.  

Traffic management

The aim of traffic management is to improve traffic safety, ensure smooth traffic, reduce traffic emissions and ensure that the road network is used more efficiently.  Traffic management helps to influence the selection of the mode of transport and route and the timing of the journey or the transport.

A requirement for successful transport management is a reliable up-to-date picture of the transport system, which is produced by means of information and communications technology (transport telematics).

Traffic information keeps road users up to date on such issues as road conditions, traffic volumes and traffic disruptions, both before and during the journey.  Traffic is steered by means of permanent and variable traffic signs, signposts and traffic lights. Management of traffic disruptions involves the detection of and dealing with situations involving disruptions as a joint effort involving different authorities.

Traffic customer service

The Centre for Traffic Customer Service is a nationwide unit providing advice in transport matters and serving as a feedback contact point.

  • Centre for Traffic Customer Service, tel. +358 295 020 600 , liikenteen.asiakaspalvelu(at)ely-keskus.fi
  • Road User's Phone Service, tel. + 358 200 2100, reports on road conditions and traffic problems 24 h/day

Päivitetty: 28.03.2023