Norwegian Public Roads Administration Regional Reforms and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration

Regional policy The Norwegian Government bases its policy on the principle that democracy means influence and power being spread as widely as possible. The goal is to:  ensure equal living conditions throughout the country  people should be free to live where they wish  put the whole country to use  contribute to more people moving to outlying regions.

Norwegian governing today Elected AuthoritiesAdministration Central government (Parliament and Cabinet) Counties – 19 Municipalities Central administration Ministries and Directorates County administration Local administration KS = The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities

Upcoming changes in regional Government Report to the Parliament in December 2006 The Government want move more responsibility and decision making from the central Government to the counties The goal is to: - strengthen regional democracy - make more efficient regional planning and administration Final decision by the Parliament in the spring 2009 Be effective from 2010

Consequences for NPRA The counties takes over the responsibility of more than 65 % of the national roads. This means the responsibility for; - financing and give preferences to different efforts - contracting for construction and maintenance Essential national roads (nearly km) will still be the central Government’s responsibility Planning, construction and operation of both the national and county road networks will still be NPRA’s responsibility – “Joint road administration” Vehicle registration and inspection, traffic management, issuing driver licences and so on will still be a national responsibility in NPRA.

ROAD NETWORK NationalCountyMunici- palities Total Length (km) TERN: 4780 km Length (km) TERN: 4780 km

Some questions…… Will the reform effect the work on traffic safety? Will we be able to maintain equal standards on the county road network throughout the hole country? What about the “Public Roads administration” in the future? - will the counties build up their own administration for roads?