Föli's impact study on expansion has been completed

During 2021, regional public transport first investigated for itself, and then with the help of the consultancy company Ramboll, what impacts a possible expansion of the Föli area would have. Over the years there has been discussions with Paimio, Parainen, Masku, Nousiainen and Mynämäki municipalities on the Föli area and its possible expansion.

The report helps municipalities to make decisions

The purpose of the report was to roughly assess the impacts of accession/expansion, including its benefits for residents, companies and the attractiveness of the municipality, costs of transport and its organisation, impacts on the payment and information system, changes in state subsidies, and practical questions related to possible accession and board work. The now completed consultancy work produced material based on which the new municipalities can assess whether they are interested in joining the Föli area. In the same way, the current Föli municipalities, i.e., Turku, Kaarina, Raisio, Lieto, Naantali and Rusko, can assess the impacts of the new municipalities joining Föli from their perspective.

The information in the report will be examined in all eleven municipalities during the spring. The material also requires examining the regional public transport, but it can generally be concluded that for the new municipalities, it would be a question of better serving the residents, climate issues and enhancing the image and business life in the municipality, but with additional costs. The costs would increase most in Parainen.

Decision should be made during this year

Decisions on the possible expansion of the Föli area will probably be made in the autumn of 2022. If the Föli area expanded, the customers would probably notice it as joint traffic and common tickets from summer 2024 onwards.

- It is still too early to anticipate whether the Föli region will expand. Each municipality will familiarise itself with the results and we will also review the material together, says Sirpa Korte, Public Transport Director.

The Föli area covers a significant share, or 47%, of the jobs of the residents in the potential new municipalities. The improvement in residents' service levels would be seen, for example, as cheaper and more flexible public transport tickets, improved accessibility of the area and easier commuting. Comprehensive and uniform public transport services throughout the commuting area would make it easier for companies to move in the area. Joining the core urban region would also promote tourism.

With regard to the current Föli municipalities, the significance varies depending on the location of the municipality and the potential joining municipalities, but the expansion could mean, for example, an improvement in the offer of public transport along with cost risks.