PROJECT TRENDSETTER

Setting Trends for a Sustainable Urban Mobility

Funding: European (5th RTD Framework Programme) Duration: Jun 2000 - Dec 2005 Status: Complete with results

Background & policy context:

Satisfying mobility for both people and goods is essential for the vitality of our cities, and a well functioning transport system is vital for a good life in the city. However, increased traffic may actually decrease mobility when people and goods get stuck in congestion. Increasing emissions and noise levels threaten citizens' health and make the cities less attractive. In the long term, the issues of climate change and energy scarcity also puts a demand to ameliorate the negative sides of traffic, while keeping the flow of people and goods high.

The Trendsetter project – one of four projects financed by the Civitas I Initiative – has tackled these problems. By setting good examples, the five participating cities Graz, Lille, Pécs, Prague and Stockholm can inspire other cities and show them how to facilitate sustainable mobility.

Objectives:

The TRENDSETTER project aims to:

• Improve mobility and quality of life

• Improve air quality

• Reduce noise and traffic congestion. A challenging goal is to prove that cities can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and climate change, i.e. that cities can meet the Kyoto goals/Bonn commitments of achieving a 5% annual CO2 reduction solely by using biogas from waste/sewage and bio-fuels from organic waste products.

Other quantified Trendsetter-targets are:

• Reduce NOx emissions by 900 tonnes per year (all cities combined) and

• particulate matter by at least 1800 tonnes per year (all cities combined)

• Save over 850 TJ (20 300 TOE) energy per year (all cities combined).

Methodology:

All Trendsetter cities have made large efforts to improve the public transport system in order to attract more passengers. Some of the measures have aimed at improving the access to public transport, and others to facilitate trip planning for smartest choice.

All Trendsetter cities have made large efforts to improve the public transport system in order to attract more passengers. Some of the measures have aimed at improving the access to public transport, and others to facilitate trip planning for smartest choice.

Lille has improved the safety and security of their public transport system, using both technical equipment and additional personnel. Lille also implemented integrated fares in the region. Both Stockholm and Lille have prepared for implementation of a smart card system. The improved safety and security, the fare integration system, Park&Ride facilities, creation and improvements of multimodal nodes and the implementation of high level of service bus lanes support an increased use of different forms of public transport in Lille.

In Graz, 60 bus and tram stops, situated at important junctions, were rebuilt and improved to make them more customer-friendly. Both Stockholm and Graz have increased the quality of services in the public transport system by using regular quality surveys, real-time information at bus stops and on the Internet, a travel guarantee for delays, mystery shoppers reporting on quality, and incentives for contractors to perform better.

To make the buses more efficient, dynamic bus priority systems have been implemented in Prague and Stockholm, while Lille has introduced a bus lane with high-level service, the first in a future series of twelve similar bus lanes. New bus lines for special needs have been implemented – one to a hospital area in Prague and one between Graz and its suburbs on weekend nights.

Related Projects:

MIRACLES

TELLUS

VIVALDI

SUCCESS

CARAVEL

MOBILIS

SMILE

Parent Programmes: FP5-EESD KA6 - Economic and Efficient Energy for a Competitive Europe Institute type: Public institution Institute name: European Commission Funding type: Public (EU)

Partners:

Swedish National Road Administration, Stockholm Region Sweden;

Stockholm Real Estate and Traffic Administration, Sweden;

Public Transport Company of Graz, Austria;

Taxi Group 878 Cityfunk Ltd., Austria;

Styrian Transport Association STVG Ltd., Austria;

Styrialog, Graz, Austria; Province of Styria, Austria;

Austrian Mobility Research, Graz, Austria;

Syndicat Mixte des Transports, Lille Metropole, France;

Pecs Municipal Operations and Property Management Company, Hungary;

Prague public transit, Czech Republic;

Udi Praha, Czech Republic

Organisation: Environment and Health Administration City of Stockholm City: Stockholm Contact country: Sweden Telephone: +46 8 508 28915 Fax Number: +46 8 508 28808

Key Results:

1. Improving access to public transport

Improved safety and security, the fare integration system, Park & Ride facilities, creation and improvements of multimodal nodes and the implementation of high level of service bus lanes, supported an increased use of different forms of public transport. The quality of services in the public transport system was increased by using regular quality surveys, real-time information at bus stops and on the Internet, a travel guarantee for delays, 'mystery shoppers', ie hired personnel, reporting on quality, and incentives for contractors to perform better.

2. Trip planning, traffic control and cycling

Trendsetter cities have introduced real-time information systems with information on arrivals and departures, trip-planning tools on the web, and mobility centres. For cycling with bicycle measures, which aim at making cycling more attractive, with Internet route planning to help cyclists plan fast and safe routes. To make cycling an attractive alternative even on longer distances by marketing cycling, the cycling network was extended and tram and bus stops and metro stations where equipped with Bike & Ride facilities. By controlling the traffic flow with e.g. traffic lights and motorway systems it is possible to achieve a smoother flow, avoid congestion and accidents and decrease emissions.

3. Marketing and mobility management

Marketing activities have shown to be an effective way of changing peoples’ behaviour and encouraging them to choose public transport. New inhabitants were identified in specific neighbourhoods, and companies with an environmental profile, as important targets for direct marketing campaigns. Mobility management for companies, schools and big events is carried out within Trendsetter.

4. Co-transportation of goods

It has shown that consolidation of goods reduces transports and their negative environmental impact. A logistics ce

Policy implications

- A common experience is that it takes longer than planned to build a specific traffic management system. One reason is that the system is technically complex. It is dependent on many sources and an incorrect value in a sub-system may affect the whole system. Tracking the error to the right sub-system is difficult. Another reason for the delay is the large number of stakeholders involved, who have to agree on an issue that they do not immediately benefit from. It also requires a shift of role by road authorities – from building roads to optimising city traffic. As the system is complex and will take several years to benefit from, it can also be difficult to receive political/high-level priority.

- To make things happen, local authorities have to take action. Cities need to inform potential stakeholders about the possibilities and effects, coordinate the consolidation schemes and help contractors with administrative and legal issues. Political support is also important, since funding is needed in the beginning. Important lessons learnt from measures

- When using public transport, passengers strive for smooth and few interchanges. Measures targeted at developing this are vital in order to make public transport more attractive, e.g. easy and integrated ticketing with smart card systems, Park&Ride facilities, secure parking places for bikes, real-time information systems at stations and web-based trip planning tools.

- Communication, information and marketing are important when trying to increase the use of public transport and other modes of sustainable transport. Soft measures are inexpensive and efficient, especially when combined with infrastructure investments.

- With traffic management systems, existing infrastructure is used more efficiently. A traffic management system is a good tool for reaching goals regarding congestion, emissions and traffic volume. For example, well-tuned traffic signals are very efficient for reducing congestion. Traffic signals giving priority to public transport is also a successful, easy and relatively inexpensive measure. It is c

Documents: Final Report (Final report)

STRIA Roadmaps: Smart mobility and services Transport mode: Road transport Transport sectors: Passenger transport, Freight transport Transport policies: Environmental/Emissions aspects Geo-spatial type: Urban