Transport infrastructure comprises the basic physical facilities and installations necessary for the operation of road, rail, civil aviation, inland waterways and shipping. Infrastructure also comprises the additional infrastructure necessary for the propulsion and refuelling of transport vehicles, for the coordination, monitoring and management of transport; to ensure secure and safe operations; and for the transfer of passengers and freight.
Transport systems are a fundamental part of our modern social and economic life. The EU aims to build a modern, integrated transport system that strengthens the EU’s global competitiveness and meets the challenges of sustainable, smart, safe, and inclusive growth.
To include new developments in transport the Commission updated the Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) roadmap for transport infrastructure in 2019.
The roadmap identifies several key challenges for EU transport infrastructure, the most significant of which are: governance; pricing, taxation, and finance; the synchro-modality, intermodality, interoperability and integration of transport systems; life-cycle optimisation; construction; operation; safety; and security. While the development of the first STRIA roadmap on transport infrastructure in 2016-2017 was mainly focused on the goal of decarbonisation, the updated version adopts a wider approach.
Decarbonisation is still an objective, but other aspects are also being considered, such as: the competitiveness of European industry; territorial cohesion; multimodality; services for visitors and the public; safety and security; etc.
The STRIA roadmap for transport infrastructure aims to:
- map out plans for R&I in these key areas;
- test new methodologies;
- pave the way for future transport infrastructure policies.
Current developments
Transport infrastructure includes basic facilities and systems for operators and users, such as:
- urban public transport networks - including light rail (metro and tram), rail, bus, urban motorways and bus lanes;
- inter-urban or inter-regional - including motorways, mainline inter-city and high-speed rail, inland shipping and domestic aviation;
- international gateways - airport hubs and major sea ports - along with other regional ports and airports.
In addition, there is extensive supporting infrastructure:
- traffic and transport control systems, aimed at ensuring safe, secure, efficient, reliable and resilient transport for all modes of transport;
- fuel distribution infrastructure;
- information and communication technologies used for customer information, and for tracking, charging, ticketing and billing;
- areas for logistics activities including logistics hubs and dry-ports
- energy facilities including electrical traction power networks necessary for infrastructure and transport operation.
The existing infrastructure continues to evolve with investment by infrastructure owners to accommodate changing demand, changing vehicle types, and to improve network performance.
Challanges
EU COMPETITIVENESS a level playing field in Europe and globally.
The challenge is to make the EU competitive, not only ensuring the required capacity and full integration between transport modes, but also expanding the EU’s industrial leadership globally.
Intermodality, interoperability, and integration of transport systems are therefore all of great importance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY AS A PRIORITY FOR USERS’ NEEDS
Transport systems have been under continuous pressure to improve the safety and security of users for many years.
That pressure continues, especially in road transport, where fatal and serious injuries remain a social and economic problem. Moreover, pressure is also increasing to reduce the risks faced by maintenance workers and other people working on the construction and operation of transport infrastructures.
DIGITALISATION, BIG DATA AND SMART INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY
The advancement of vehicle technology is placing new demands on transport infrastructure for digitalisation, data connectivity and changing operational practices.
This requires transport infrastructure to be far more flexible in use, and to adapt quickly to changes (especially changes in demand).
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, including decarbonisation, reduction of emissions and protection of energy supplies.
The governance of transport infrastructure must ensure that the principles of the energy union are compatible with mobility, economic growth, employment, and competitiveness.
URBAN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE to ensure efficient and safe urban mobility.
The most significant transport challenges are often related to urban areas and arise when transport systems cannot satisfy urban mobility requirements. Modern technologies have the potential to transform urban areas into cleaner, safer and more efficient places, also known as smart cities.
Two essential preconditions for this paradigm shift are connectivity and sufficient infrastructure development.