Project Details

Project goal

As of 2014, the Government of Romania was determined to increase the rate of absorption of EU Structural Instruments including leveraging international expertise from International Financial Institutions (IFIs). To this end, the Government asked the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD) to provide assistance to the Government in policy and strategy formulation as well as with sector and project planning, design and implementation. Public transport was identified as one of the strategic priorities needing EU co-financing.

Moreover, in line with the regionalisation objective of Romania, the EU Regional Operational Programme ("ROP") focuses on the development of the Bucharest-Ilfov agglomeration (formed of the capital city of Bucharest and of Ilfov county) and of the seven largest cities designated as regional urban growth poles (Constanța, Craiova, Ploiești, Iași, Brașov, Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara). Such poles are seen as the engines of Romania's economic growth in the country's development regions.

The elaboration of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans for the seven aforementioned growth poles and Bucharest-Ilfov agglomeration was agreed as a priority by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration (MRDPA) and by the European Commission, and this activity became framework for urban transport project design for measures to be implemented using funds of ROP for Regional Development (2014-2020) through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

In this context, the EBRD employed consultants, funded by the MRDPA and supported by JASPERS, to support the Ministry in preparing SUMPs for the seven Growth Poles and Bucharest-Ilfov agglomeration.

The consortium WSP UK (coordinator), Panteia, AV Transport Planning and Rupprecht Consult GmbH assisted the municipalities of Brațov and Constanța in developing their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans according to national legislation and in line with the EU guidelines and standards.

Results

With the consortium, we developed two Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, one for the growth pole Brașov and one for Constanța, which were strategically designed to satisfy the mobility needs of people and businesses in the functional areas of cities and surrounding localities, for a better quality of life currently and in the future. The SUMPs were built on existing planning practices enhancing public transport and active travel modes, and took due consideration of integration, participation and evaluation principles.

Project partners

• WSP UK Limited, London, United Kingdom
• Panteia B.V, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
• AV Transport Planning Srl, Bucharest, Romania
• Rupprecht Consult GmbH, Cologne, Germany

Follower

• City of Brasov, Brasov, Romania
• City of Constanta, Constanta, Romania