Kaur Lass - About Rail Baltica

Kaur LassArchitect (MA), Spatial Planning Expert

OÜ Head, CEO and consultant

Updated 04.12.2009

Planning of Rail Baltica tunnel area – illustrating the relation between VASAB 2010 Vision and

Comprehensive plans of Viimsi

www.headandlead.com

© Kaur Lass 2008-2009 www.headandlead.com, [email protected]

I will illustrate on that based upon:• VASAB 2010;• Via Baltica Spatial Development Zone (VBSDZ);• Estonian National Plan - Estonia 2010;• Pärnu, Rapla and Harju County Plans• Comprehensive Plan for Continental Area of Viimsi Municipality;• Comprehensive Plan for Äigrumäe village, Laiaküla village, Metsakastivillage and part of Muuga Village in Viimsi Municipality;• how plans affect on land value.

How has VASAB 2010 worked in every day life?


Short case study on how VASAB 2010 had influence on local planning based upon the idea of a high speed railway from Helsinki to Berlin.



VASAB 2010 stated:

Improved railway transportation system shall provide connections for long distances among “European” and “Baltic cities”. This includes high-speed long-distance passenger trains along selected corridors which interlink with the corresponding network for Western Europe via Berlin and Hamburg.

Main high-speed railway lines 2010 and beyond:4. Tallinn-Riga-Kaunas-Warsaw-Berlin-Hamburg.VASAB 2010 Towards a Framework for Spatial Development in the Baltic Sea Region (Tallinn Conference), 1994, see page 59



Via Baltica Spatial Development Zone report stated that following Strategy and Actions are needed:

ObjectiveD.1.1. Fast international railway access to Central Europe

ActionD.1.1.1 To develop Rail Baltica as an high-speed railway Helsinki-Berlin (train ferry Helsinki-Tallinn, Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel

Via Baltica Spatial Development Zone Summary Report 2000, Riga 2000, see page 95



Estonian National Plan - Estonia 2010 has chosen the direction for high-speed railway to Europe.

The railway route goes form Tallinn directly to south and passes Pärnu. There is also shown a direction towards Finland (possibly via tunnel).

Estonia 2010 is approved by Estonian Government 19. September 2000.


. Rail Baltica route


Based upon Estonian National Plan -Estonia 2010 three counties on the route of high-speed railway have fixed its location on their couny plans:

Pärnu County;Rapla County;Harju County.

Although Harju County Plan was adopted 19.04.1999, before Estonia 2010, there are the also chosen the Tallinn – Berlin high speed railway and tunnel routes towards Helsinki.


. Rail Baltica anda tunnel to

Helsinki


Based upon HarjuCounty Plan ViimsiMunicipality was forced by County Governor to leave an area open for Tallinn – Helsinki high speed railway tunnel in the Comprehensive Plan for Continental Area of Viimsi Municipality.


. The Rail Balticathe tunnel area



According to the old Planning and Building Act and also according to the new Planning Act valid from 01.01.2003 in Estonia the approved nation-wide plan (Estonia 2010) is the base for county plans.

County plans act according the law as a base for comprehensive plans and comprehensive plans again to detail land use plan. Land use plans are a base for project. Project is base for building.

Even officially in Estonia there is no state level b inding decision that the high speed railway should be built, state planning guidelines, valid plans and everyday planning practi ce stress itas one of the priorities. That means the final railway route in the whole country is not selected. This causes problems in local planning level while handling everyday construction, land use and planning questions.


Viimsi Municipality was therefore forced to take another action and carry out a study for choosing the tunnel area and make a more detailed comprehensive plan for the tunnel area. The Comprehensive Plan for Äigrumäe village, Laiakülavillage, Metsakasti village and part of Muuga Village in Viimsi Municipality is already prepared. It is in the final stage and has got all the official approvals needed. During the public display it got several disapproving statements form land owners. Right now Count Governor is giving his opinions about the dispute.


The Rail Baltica railway and exact tunnel area .


The Rail Baltica railway and exact tunnel area .

Comprehensive Plan for Äigrumäe village, Laiaküla village, Metsakastivillage and part of Muuga Village in Viimsi Municipality showing the highspeed railway tunnel to Helsinki could be valid form ViimsiMunicipality’s Council side next month. It only waits Estonian state approval from Harju County Governor who have to look that the state interest according valid county and national plan are takeinto account and give his opinion about disputes between municipality and land owners.




Vision of VASAB 2010 has effected according the demonstrated case Estonia so, that it made local governments responsible on selecting the actual location of railway. Regardless the fact that countries still miss an common agreement on it and that for example Latvia has no National Plan to continue the high speed rail routefrom Estonian border towards South.


The importance of common vision

The vision of VASAB has and will have legal, political, environmental and financial output on everyday planning.

Therefore we need to understand same ideas the same way. In case or Rail Baltica this is extremely important.

Philosopher Bob Proctor has said:“Whatever you’re thinkingabout you will attract.”


Aim of planning is:To create the desired future by fully informed (= aware) decision

making.

Past Future

Present

Agreed terms

Planned event

Aim of planning and vision

14 © Illustration by: Kaur Lass and Ingvar Villido 2006


Any plans that becomes real is based upon a vision. Vision becomes real if people who have to follow it can relate to it.

Aim of planning and vision

VISION

NO

SWE

FIN

RUS

EST

LV

LT

BY

PL

DK

GER


OOOOÜÜÜÜ HeadHeadHeadHead is independent consulting company focused on sharing skills of conscious planning and decision making.

Our mission is to help our clients consciously create the development they need. This is achieved by strategic planning and personal coaching from our side and trough rational actions based on co-operation on our client’s side. We succeed through your success.

www.headandlead.com


OOOOÜÜÜÜ HeadHeadHeadHead

Kaur Lassphone: +372 50 83 906

[email protected]

www.headandlead.com


AS Pöyry EntecLõõtsa 2A

Tallinn 11415Tel (+372) 617 7430,

Faks (+372) 617 7431,[email protected]

www.entec.eewww.poyry.com

In co-operation with:

Documents

Kaur Lass - About Rail Baltica