estonia-2030_en

port is costly and complicated, the construction of new residential areas in the immediate vicinity ofa port needs to be avoided.A number of harbours with a good export potential remain untouched by international transit flows.The harbours of Pärnu, Virtsu, Roomassaare and Kunda could improve the competitiveness of thelocal economies and export or import goods important for those regions. Moreover, options could beconsidered for fully developing the freight transit potential of the port in Saaremaa.Goods entering or leaving ports should be transported preferably by railway (particularly acrosslonger distances); however, good connections of the ports to the highway network are needed aswell. Due to Estonia’s smallness, domestic freight transport by railway is expedient only on a fewroutes, as a result of which its brunt is still borne by road vehicles.For the ports of Paldiski to develop and for risks internal to Tallinn to decrease, it is well worthpreserving the southbound by-pass railway route. The need for the by-pass will become particularlygreat if there is a desire to significantly increase the trade flows passing through the ports of Paldiski.Consideration needs to be given to even further options for re-directing freight transport by railwayaround large cities and towns (for instance, Tartu). If needed, appropriate by-pass routes could beplanned for this in county plans.On Estonia’s coastline there is a chain of small harbours (including marinas), optimal from the nationalpoint of view, to link islands to the mainland and further direct links to foreign nations for tourism.Such a chain will help to ensure an economic base for the islands and coastal areas. In developingsmall harbours, it is expedient to merge various purposes (fisheries, tourism, recreation and so on).Small harbours meshing with services provided in their hinterlands generate synergies that improvethe opportunities for tourism to develop. It is very important to provide good access to smallharbours – both those on the sea and on small bodies of water.4.4. Various transport modes are utilised in a balancedmanner, considering the specific character of regionsIn urban areas, terminals linking various transport modes, allowing people to find the public means oftransport they need readily and quickly, are turning into essential infrastructure components. Suchhubs are particularly important in larger centres, where they are able to connect various mobilitymodes.41