Overview
The European Transport Policy, see COM(2006)314final, proposes the concept of co-modality as an essential instrument to achieve a high level of mobility and environmental protection. Co-modality is defined as the efficient use of different transport modes on their own as well as their combination.
The existing transport system still remains far away from that concept. The interface between long and short-distance transport in a door-to-door trip is frequently the weak link in the transport chain for both passenger and freight transport. The current situation favours the choice of uni-modal solutions by users, and handicaps the development of more competitive and more sustainable transport chains. In addition, this situation reduces the number of alternatives available to users, such as innovative services and intermodal transport. The users have to cope with complex, expensive and inefficient operations in these interfaces.
Based on existing research and practice the CLOSER project developed innovative tools for the analysis of interfaces and checked these tools in a number of case studies. As a result specific recommendations to stakeholders were provided in order to obtain:
- a more systematic approach to the whole project cycle of interfaces from planning to design and operation;
- specific guidelines for decision makers in order to cope with the challenges of a particular project, and to get the most out of the opportunities that each project offers in the areas of transport, spatial, and economic development;
- a friendlier regulatory environment; fostering cooperation and supporting better integrated interfaces;
- improved mechanisms for funding those concepts with a higher degree of integration (including EU funding schemes); and
- in-depth involvement of stakeholders, particularly transport operators.
Improve existing knowledge in the field of operation of intermodal long-to-short-distance interfaces, by:
- providing tools for the characterisation of those interfaces, including the development of key indicators which should facilitate the characterisation of interchanges, and help to identify the associated opportunities for sustainable development associated in each case;
- Streamlining the project cycle, including financial aspects, by identifying key barriers and obstacles within the process;
- Customising research results in the form of ad hoc recommendations and guidelines for each group of stakeholders. Consolidating results from previous research projects and updating the discussion of future trends.
Funding
Results
At the decision making level, the following key results can be pointed out:
- Identify and analyse new, emerging mobility patterns for interurban, long distance intermodal passenger and freight transport and what these new patterns demand to the long/short distance interface.
- Identify and disseminate best practices in a systematic way.
- Establish a number of indicators, which should help practitioners to categorize the long/short distance interface problem, so that they could propose decision-makers a more standardised approach to the definition of the interface, well in advance within the project cycle.
- Support decision makers with guidelines to adopt a more systematic approach to the whole project cycle of interfaces, and their management
Innovation aspects
The main innovation of this project lays within the design of transport interchanges. CLOSER helped in the establishment of innovative tools for the analysis of interconnections and the regulatory framework, including a set of specific indicators and questionnaires. In addition, an innovation for reduced emissions and congestion is also well covered.
Technical Implications
At the technical level, CLOSER has improved existing knowledge on the operation of intermodal long-to-short-distance interfaces by:
- Providing the tools for the characterisation of those interfaces, including the development of key indicators, which should facilitate the characterisation of interchanges, and help to identify the associated opportunities for sustainable development associated in each case.
- Streamlining the project cycle, including financing aspects, by identifying key barriers and obstacles within the process.
- Customising research results in the form of ad hoc recommendations and guidelines for each group of stakeholders.
- Consolidating results from previous research projects and updating the discussion of future trends.
Policy implications
The following Policy recommendations were made:
- Create a strategy vision on intermodality and interconnectivity of various modes for both passenger and freight transport.
- Incorporate the strategy vision in a Policy Paper ('Roadmap for the Future') concerning the development of the transport sector in terms of infrastructure and operations, ratified from the national parliament.
- Adopt the above Roadmap and implement it during the next ten years with the appropriate small scale revisions every two years and the potential for more changes in the mid-term (e.g. every five years).
- Create a 'think tank' group able to advice policy makers and guide the whole process.
- Integrate the administration of the public transport system.
- Harmonise modal focused legislation and regulation as the first step before integration to a multimodal platform, and in accordance to EU directives and regulations, integrate commons standards at the EU level.
- Policy and legal framework should facilitate intermodal cooperation.
- Form regulatory and/or certified authorities targeted to interoperability and interconnectivity.
- Regulate the charges for the use of the terminal.
Policy objectives
- An efficient and integrated mobility system: service quality and reliability
- Innovating for the future (technology and behaviour): promoting more sustainable development