Peer review of KouvolaRegion

Peer review of KouvolaRegion Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 A Sustainable Urban Transport Plan? • The European Commission recommended and member states support the preparation by Cities of “Sustainable Urban Transport Plans” (SUTP’s) as the key tool to manage urban transport problems and help to provide solutions to urban transport problems. (See the “Thematic Strategy for the Urban Environment”) • The European Commission is looking to the 11 Bustrip cities and one region to be the first to prepare and implement SUTP’s and to share their experiences and learning. • European experts have helped to develop the model of a SUTP – the process of preparing the plan and the policies it should include – now lets see if it works! Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 KouvolaRegion – already ahead! • Over the next two years each of the 12 partners will prepare and start to implement their SUTP. • Already you have looked at your own progress and shared this with us - your “self assessment report”. • An expert team, including representatives from other Bustrip cities has carried out a peer review of your region over the last week to provide friendly independent constructive criticism in support of your SUTP headline findings today – report in a month or so. Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 The Team Mrs. Anna Granberg – Union of Baltic Cities - Environment Commission Mr. Sönke Behrends – University of Chalmers, Göteborg, Sweden Mr. Imre Antso –City of Pärnu, Estonia Mr. Kristiina Karu – City of Tartu, Estonia Mr. Olle Bertilsson – City of Sundsvall, Sweden Has carried out a desk review of your self assessment report before they arrived – great report and many thanks! Has met and discussed your progress, your concerns and your issues Has met with, business leaders, the general public and stakeholders Has tried out your public transport system and explored your region – and we want to come back to see more! Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 What were we looking for? A Transport system that: • Allows the basic access and development needs of individuals, companies and societies to be met safely and in a manner consistent with human and ecosystem health, and promotes equity within and between successive generations; • Is affordable, operates fairly and efficiently, offers a choice of transport mode and supports an competitive economy as well as balanced regional development; • Limits emissions and waste within the planets ability to absorb them, uses renewable resources at or below their rates of generation, and, uses non renewable resources at or below the rates of development of renewable substitutes while minimising the impact on the use of land and the generation of noise. EU transport council 2001) http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/trans/index.htm Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 An administration that • Shows best practice for regional cooperation • Is successfully implementing the idea of a compact city • Has created brilliant cycling conditions but not used the full potential of public transport • Faces great challenges due to transport related developments in the area Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 We found…….. What were we looking for …..Does the region…… Have a sustainable transport plan that is integrated with an overall sustainable development strategy that deals with: “The movement of goods and people in a more sustainable way, Comprehensively addressing public and private transport, Motorised and non motorized transport, moving and parked vehicles and well as freight transport and logistics”. Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 We found……. • A plan that – deals with all transport relevant issues, – is integrated with land-use planning and – is integrated with the transport plan of Kymmenlaakso county • Good coordination and cooperation between municipalities in both county and regional level Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 However: • The plan needs to be upgraded to be a SUTP – Define a sustainable transport vision for Kouvola Region – Involve stakeholders (e.g. citizens, NGO’s, social department, major companies, etc.) – Secure compliance of municipalities – Set clear targets which are relevant for the vision and are measurable – Select actions that are suitable to achieve targets – Delegate responsibilities to persons/units and finance for target achievement – Monitor progress (as you already plan to do) Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 Does the region…… General principles • Understand and effectively manage the implications of transport arising from all development in the region • Efficiently manage the infrastructure to achieve economic growth whilst restricting transport growth • Implement the principle of the polluter pays and ensure that users of transport infrastructure pay the actual and external (environmental and social) costs Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 We found…….. • Good understanding among responsible planners of the impact of transport activities on the city’s environment • Transport management that is an integrated part of city planning • Planning that is based on excellent passenger transport demand data Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 However, there is a lack… • of modal split data for usage of – – – – Private cars Public Transport Bikes Walking • of understanding of implications of freight transport arising from increasing logistics activities – Holistic and long term impact assessment • • • • • Emissions Noise Congestion Vibrations Etc. Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 Does the region…… Reduce the demand for transport • Provide door to door access choices across the region • Promote compact settlements with an efficient use of land and space • Strengthen the use of information and communication technologies Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 We found…….. • That “Compact city structure” is the guiding principle of city planning with excellent success – Services are available locally – Few traffic-generating external shopping centres – A vibrant city centre in Kouvola • Wide access to broadband connection (98%) provides possibility for tele-commuting, e-health care and e-municipality services Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 However • Kouvola Region could make better use of the compact city structure for – Providing efficient and accessible public transport system – Promoting behavioural change for using sustainable transport modes Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 Does the region…… Transport management • Reduce congestion • Enhance modal shift and inter-modality • Provide easy to understand traveller information • Optimise the use of infrastructure • Use financial incentives and taxes • Promote behavioural change • Optimise freight and logistics • Use intelligent transport and management systems Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 We found…….. • A large share of freight is transported by rail and ambitions to increase it • Great bike network with signs and wide lanes that are in good condition • Good road information system • A travel centre that provides excellent potentials for intermodality Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 However, • The public transport system is not considered as a mode of transport for all users - only for those that have no access to a private car • The bus system provides improvement possibilities, especially for nonfrequent users – – – – Passenger information (e.g. route maps) Frequency Transferability with single tickets Ticketing (value card) and prices Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 However, • There is a lack of coordinating the public transport system on regional level • The rail network provides the potential for commuting in the region – but is not used Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 Does the region…… Provide a clean and fair transport system • With clean and energy efficient vehicles • That meets the needs of all social groups • That improves the quality and condition of the region's environment and contributes to reducing the impact of the region on the global environment • That is improving road safety and security Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 We found…… • Plans for a transport call centre for persons with special needs and/or from remote areas • A quite safe transport system with a comparably low number of accidents and local and regional safety plans • Eco-driving education for bus drivers Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 However, • No discussions/actions for promoting/using clean vehicles and alternative fuels • Biking network could be improved locally (e.g. more bike parking facilities at travel centre) • Marketing and promotion of the excellent biking network could be increased (“Be the best”) • No motivation for energy-efficient driving for bus drivers (Award “Eco-driver of the month”) Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 Questions? • Did we miss anything? • Did we get anything wrong? Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 What next….. • For us: Write up our assessment as a report which will be with you in a month’s time • For you: Comment and correct our report Start your work on preparing the first Sustainable Urban Transport Plan in Europe! Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006 Thank you for your hospitality and support and we look forward to our partnership in the future! Peer Review of the progress towards sustainable urban transport KouvolaRegion 11rd – 15th September 2006