Politics
Helsinki Council Approves €900 Million School, Metro, and Tunnel Plan
Residents in Helsinki will see targeted spending on school buildings and metro lines plus new traffic infrastructure starting from 2025.
How we reported this
The Helsinki City Council elected Daniel Sazonov of the National Coalition Party as mayor for the 2025-2029 term at its first meeting and approved the 2025 budget along with an indicative financial plan covering 2025-2027. The same session confirmed four deputy mayors to handle specific portfolios and set the council leadership. These decisions directly shape spending on education facilities, transport maintenance and road projects that affect daily travel and school conditions for city residents.
The new term begins with a focus on capital projects already in the pipeline. Council members also elected Eveliina Heinäluoma of the Social Democratic Party as chairperson, with Juha Hakola of the National Coalition Party and Anni Sinnemäki of the Greens as first and second deputy chairs. The structure assigns Johanna Laisaari to urban environment, Reetta Vanhanen to education, Paavo Arhinmäki to culture and leisure, and Maarit Vierunen to social services, health care and rescue services.
Investment programme targets schools and metro
The approved budget includes a roughly €900 million investment programme for school repairs and metro upkeep over the coming years. Families with children in Helsinki schools stand to gain from updated buildings, while regular metro users can expect fewer service disruptions once maintenance work advances. The plan covers the period through 2027 and sets out spending priorities without new revenue measures detailed in the council record.
Traffic tunnel project moves forward
Separately, the council confirmed construction of a 1.6-kilometre traffic tunnel in Sörnäinen at an estimated cost of €180 million. The project aims to improve north-south traffic flow, with work potentially beginning next year. Residents who commute through the area may see changes in road capacity once the tunnel opens, though construction phases could affect nearby streets and access during the build period.
Further steps include finalising contractor selections for the tunnel and rolling out the first phases of the investment programme. City documents indicate the budget and plan received approval on November 27, setting the framework for implementation across the new council term.