estonia-2030_en

Apart from regional bus services, at times railway services, too, have a role to play in linkage withinan daily activity space. In this respect, the electric railway in the Tallinn area is particularly important,and clearly there is going to be a need for it additionally over the coming decades. The new trains tobe purchased over the next few years (starting in 2012) will improve the quality of this service and itsattractiveness for the consumer.Growing mobility needs, rising engine fuel prices and increasingly stringent environmental requirementsare creating an increased need for public transport. Creating the conditions for its developmentis consistent with the policies of sustainable transport of the EU and a prerequisite for the preservationof settlement and the provision of living facilities in Estonia.The quality and usableness of public transport services will continue to depend on state support alsoin the future.Insofar as transport within an daily activity space mainly services low-density settlements, it has to beensured that the nation's main connecting, secondary and local roads are properly fit to be driven onand safe year-round (see subsection 4.2.3). Utilisation of passenger vehicles needs to be linked topublic transport more (for instance, park-and-ride systems).4.2.2. Provision of mobility facilities in urban areasReplacing passenger vehicles with public vehicles is paramount in cities and towns and peri-urbanareas, that is, in urban areas, where the objective is to alleviate the effects of car dependence – timelost due to traffic jams, a deterioration in the state of the environment or risks of traffic safety orenvironmental disasters. Whereas in most urban areas this function is performed primarily by busservices, in Tallinn electric transport (trams, trolleys, and electric trains) merit preservation and developmentas well.The better functioning of public transport will be provided by the network and schedules of servicesbeing aligned with the daily mobility demand of people and by the improvement in the quality andconvenience of service by means of a well-functioning ticketing system and better linkage betweenvarious transport modes.When it comes to linkage between cities’ and towns’ internal structure and the peri-urban areas,improvement in the situation of light traffic (pedestrian, bicycle and the like) is important. It would beexpedient to join pedestrian and bicycle paths into regional networks. The network for light trafficshould link larger residential areas to working places, hiking trails, sports facilities, educational institutions,other places (shopping centres, city centres and others) where services are provided and33