Federal Ministry for Transport facts for kids
| Bundesministerium für Verkehr | |
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 The ministry's main building in Berlin |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 20 September 1949 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Germany |
| Headquarters | Invalidenstraße 44, Berlin 52°31′46.58″N 13°22′42.10″E / 52.5296056°N 13.3783611°E |
| Employees | 1,300 |
| Annual budget | €41.154 billion (2021) |
| Minister responsible |
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The Federal Ministry for Transport (in German: Bundesministerium für Verkehr, or BMV) is a top-level government department in Germany. It is like the main control center for everything that moves in the country, from cars and trains to ships and airplanes.
The ministry's main office is in Berlin, but most of its employees work in the city of Bonn. About 1,300 people work directly for the ministry. It is led by the Federal Minister, who is a member of the German government's main team, called the cabinet.
The ministry also supervises 63 other agencies that handle specific jobs. These agencies employ around 25,000 people who work on keeping Germany's transportation systems running smoothly and safely.
Contents
History of the Ministry
The ministry was first created on September 20, 1949. Over the years, its name and responsibilities have changed. It started as the Federal Ministry of Transport. Later, it merged with the ministry for building and city planning.
In 2013, its name was changed to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. This showed that it was now also in charge of things like the internet. In 2021, it got its current, shorter name: the Federal Ministry for Transport.
After German reunification in 1990, the ministry had the huge job of rebuilding roads and railways in the former East Germany. Many of the ministers in charge during this time came from this part of the country.
What the Ministry Does
The ministry's main job is to manage the movement of people, products, and information across Germany. It handles all national transportation and digital networks.
Keeping Germany Moving
The ministry is in charge of all major transportation routes that belong to the federal government. This includes:
- Roads: Germany's famous highways, called the Autobahn, and other major federal roads.
- Railways: The national train network used by millions of people.
- Waterways: Rivers and canals that ships use to transport goods.
- Air Travel: Rules and safety for flying in Germany.
The ministry plans and funds projects to build new infrastructure and repair existing ones. A big part of its job is to make sure all these ways of travel are safe for everyone.
Building a Digital Future
Besides roads and railways, the ministry works on Germany's digital infrastructure. A major goal is to make sure everyone in Germany has access to fast internet.
It also focuses on making transportation "smarter." This includes supporting new ideas like cars that run on alternative fuels and developing intelligent transport systems. For example, the ministry set up a "Digital Test Field" on a highway to test new car technologies, like self-driving features.
The ministry is also involved in big European projects like the Galileo satellite navigation system (Europe's version of GPS) and the Copernicus Programme, which uses satellites to monitor the Earth.
Agencies Managed by the Ministry
The ministry oversees many smaller, specialized government agencies. These groups handle the day-to-day work of managing Germany's transport systems. Here are a few examples:
- Federal Highway Research Institute: This agency studies how to make roads safer, better for the environment, and more efficient.
- Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation: This group investigates plane crashes to find out what went wrong and prevent future accidents.
- Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation: It does the same job as the aircraft bureau, but for accidents involving ships.
- German Meteorological Service: This is Germany's national weather service. It provides weather forecasts for the public, shipping, and aviation.
- Federal Motor Transport Authority: This agency handles vehicle registrations and driver's licenses.
The German government, through the ministry, also owns parts of important companies, such as Deutsche Bahn (Germany's national railway company) and companies that run major airports like Berlin, Cologne/Bonn, and Munich.
See also
In Spanish: Ministerio Federal de Digital y Transporte (Alemania) para niños
- Internet in Germany
- Transport in Germany
