Budget committee approves 2026 transport budget of EUR 27.9 billion

More money for road building (federal roads under the needs plan EUR 907 million, up EUR 225 million; Autobahn GmbH EUR 4.26 billion, up EUR 250 million), financed by EUR 450 million less for maintenance of federal roads. EUR 200 million for cheaper long-distance track charges is blocked until a new funding guideline exists, cycle paths receive EUR 20 million less, and smaller airports get EUR 50 million of help with air navigation fees.

The Bundestag budget committee set the 2026 transport budget at EUR 27.90 billion of expenditure in its final reconciliation session (2025: EUR 38.29 billion), about EUR 318 million less than in the government draft; commitment appropriations stand at EUR 18.04 billion. More money goes to construction-ready road projects (federal roads under the needs plan EUR 907 million, Autobahn GmbH EUR 4.26 billion), paid for by EUR 450 million less for maintaining federal roads; EUR 200 million for cheaper long-distance track charges is blocked until a new funding guideline is in place, and cycle paths get EUR 20 million less. The transport ministry puts classic transport investment in 2026 at more than EUR 34 billion; Minister Schnieder presented the budget in the Bundestag (report of 28 November 2025). (LOK Report, 20 Nov and 28 Nov 2025; second source: Deutscher Bundestag (hib), 14 Nov 2025)