Connecting the different transport options available has become more important than ever – which is why the South Tyrol government has decided to re-design its official mobility strategy.
South Tyrol Minister for Mobility Daniel Alfreider: “In recent years, mobility and logistics have developed and changed significantly. To align what’s on offer with the mobility needs of the population, we must therefore devise and plan a comprehensive and inter-modal network of options.” Sustainability played a key role in this, the Minister added. Another crucial factor, he explained, was compliance with certain requirements in order to access EU subsidies from the ERDF and ESF funds, since the European Union plans to make a number of resources available for mobility projects over the coming years, as well as financing from the Italian FDC (Fund for Development and Cohesion).
Sustainability: the number one priority
On 15 February 2022, the South Tyrol government took a first step towards drawing up a new plan: by agreeing on which departments of the official administration and other partners will join in the new cooperation. “In mobilising for the future, we are keen to involve experts, interest groups and citizens alike,” Alfreider continued.
The 2018 mobility plan – so far only partially implemented – will be further expanded into a “Provincial Mobility Plan for Sustainable Mobility and Logistics”. While the previous plan focused primarily on local public transport, the aim is to align its new version with a set of sustainability goals established specifically for South Tyrol. In addition, it will be broadened to include key aspects of integrated mobility alongside the corresponding specialist plans: Central topics include bicycle mobility, the Brennero/Brenner Digital Green Corridor, mobility management in sensitive areas and parking space management, to name but a few. And, for the first time, the new plan will include freight carriage in addition to passenger transport. For councils and municipalities in particular, but also for a whole series of offices and departments at the provincial government, it will be a crucial basis upon which to develop further concepts.
A two-tier, participation-based revision
The plan will be amended in two phases: By April 2022, a set of mobility guidelines and objectives for South Tyrol will be defined – involving consultations with the principal stakeholders. The outcome will then be submitted to the provincial government for approval, in order to meet the legal requirements on the one hand and to ensure eligibility for funding by the European Union on the other hand. In a second step, the strategy document will be refined to include a number of different specialist plans – some of which are already in place, such as the bike mobility plan. (LPA)
Photo: LPA/helios