Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Evening rush hour traffic on the outskirts of Bern.
DETEC is shaping the Switzerland of tomorrow: it works to ensure safe transport routes, a reliable energy supply and the preservation of our natural resources – forests, water, animals, plants and landscapes. In doing so, it always seeks to strike a balance between protection and utility, for example when generating green energy or taking environmental considerations into account when planning infrastructure projects.
Albert Rösti
Head of DETEC.
Member of the Federal Council since 2023.
Solid transport networks connect Switzerland and strengthen the cohesion of our country.
Priorities of the DETEC in 2026
Switzerland needs reliable roads and railways to keep the country on the move. DETEC ensures that our transport infrastructure is well maintained and expanded where necessary. However, this involves demanding tasks: There are financial challenges associated with the railway expansion plans, which will lead to considerable additional costs, and plans to expand six sections of motorway were rejected by voters in 2024. A holistic approach is therefore needed.
ETH Zurich was commissioned to produce an expert report for the Federal Council to identify from a technical perspective where the need is greatest and which projects should be prioritised by 2045. On this expert basis – also known as Transport ’45 – and the expertise of its specialist agencies, DETEC submitted a roposal to the Federal Council regarding which projects should be included in the planning process. The Federal Council has already determined that consideration should be given to providing additional funding for railway expansion projects.
Taking a uniform view, rail and road transport as well as tram and bus services in urban areas need to be better coordinated than before. The expansion will progress step by step and ongoing construction work will continue as planned. This will ensure that all parts of Switzerland remain well connected in the future. A well-functioning transport network with modern infrastructure not only connects people, regions and jobs, but also strengthens the cohesion of the country as a whole.
Expenses 2024 (CHF)
14.76bn
Staff (FTEs) 2024
2,551
Organisation chart DETEC
