How municipalities are implementing innovative transport solutions
Innovative sustainable mobility solutions are being tested in pilot regions as part of the ULTIMOB project – for Salzburg, the Research Studio iSPACE analysed commuter flows with the Salzburger Verkehrsverbund. Current developments and findings were widely shared by the Klimabündnis at a networking meeting with follower municipalities: That way, innovative measures can be taken up and implemented throughout Austria.
The Austrian mobility system faces complex challenges: The share of motorised individual transport remains high, even though climate and soil protection call for a reduction of transport-related emissions and a decrease of car use. At the same time, lifestyles and mobility behaviour are changing: Traditional work models are increasingly replaced by remote work opportunities; however, many people are still forced to commute.
Integrative solutions can help overcome these challenges. Sustainable mobility can thus contribute significantly to achieving social, environmental and economic goals.
Four regions are testing Ultimate Integrated Mobility Solutions
Within the ULTIMOB project, innovative mobility solutions are being implemented in a bottom-up approach in four pilot regions (Greater Salzburg, Graz Region, Tullnerfeld, Ötztal). The aim is to increase the usability of the transport system, to increase the incentive for sustainable mobility behaviour and to improve the framework conditions for new developments.
Four Pilot Regions
For Salzburg, the iSPACE Smart Settlement Systems research studio of the RSA FG developed the “Haltestelle 4.0” with the support of UML Salzburg and the Salzburger Verkehrsverbund (Salzburg transport association).
Follower municipalities watch and learn
A central part of the ULTIMOB project is the follower process: the mobility solutions developed should not remain mere pilot projects, but should also be taken to other similar municipalities and regions. For this purpose, 23 Climate Alliance municipalities and associated regions were selected to follow partial results and consider how they can adapt and implement the developed measures in their municipalities. This process is new and unique in Austria.
In a networking meeting organised by the Klimabündnis on 25 May 2021, the municipalities were informed about the latest findings – Thomas Prinz from the Research Studio iSPACE Smart Settlement Systems presented the main results of the Haltestelle 4.0 project:
The aim of UML Haltestelle 4.0 is to establish a “laboratory stop” at Neumarkt am Wallersee station, where on the one hand, innovative new developments and technical solutions can be tested and evaluated, and on the other hand, relevant digital data and data interfaces for research and development projects can be provided.
“The aim is to gain new insights into the use and acceptance of new and innovative bus stop equipment and the transferability of results to other mobility nodes – especially in the context of park-and-ride, bike-and-ride and kiss-and-ride. Innovations should make multimodal access from the region to public transport attractive, facilitate transfer and improve the continuity of multimodal path chains,” says Thomas Prinz.
The possible transferability to other nodes is being investigated in the ULTIMOB project together with the Salzburger Verkehrsverbund. The potential of commuters to work and education is calculated and their ability to reach stops flexibly – whether on foot, by bike or by car – is analysed. Based on this, the “Multimodal Action Plan” creates recommendations for action for selected locations: Which traffic participants are relevant? What multimodal facilities are needed? Which means of transport should be prioritised?
These analyses are to be incorporated into a comprehensive strategy for the expansion of multimodal nodes in the province of Salzburg. Follower municipalities from other provinces were able to learn from the Salzburg findings at the networking meeting and gather ideas for implementation in their municipalities.
The remaining 1,000 Klimabündnis municipalities are informed about the developments and partial results of the ULTIMOB project via newsletter – and also international partners can learn more about the project via “Climate Alliance International”.
After all, sustainable mobility is a global project that requires small-scale, regional solutions as much as international strategies.
