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Meeting Sweden’s urban public transport challenge

Posted: 3 July 2013 | Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd, Minister of Infrastructure, Sweden | No comments yet

Interest in improving people’s ability to opt for public transport has undoubtedly increased in recent years. This is not surprising, given the major challenges that lie ahead of us. The transport sector’s overall challenge is to meet a surge in demand for transport and simultaneously develop long-term sustainable transport systems. We are all aware of the benefits of public transport, especially in cities, in the form of lower emissions, demands on space and increased liveability.

Interest in improving people’s ability to opt for public transport has undoubtedly increased in recent years. This is not surprising, given the major challenges that lie ahead of us. The transport sector’s overall challenge is to meet a surge in demand for transport and simultaneously develop long-term sustainable transport systems. We are all aware of the benefits of public transport, especially in cities, in the form of lower emissions, demands on space and increased liveability.

Interest in improving people’s ability to opt for public transport has undoubtedly increased in recent years. This is not surprising, given the major challenges that lie ahead of us. The transport sector’s overall challenge is to meet a surge in demand for transport and simultaneously develop long-term sustainable transport systems. We are all aware of the benefits of public transport, especially in cities, in the form of lower emissions, demands on space and increased liveability.

Sweden is currently experiencing the highest rate of urbanisation in the EU. According to Eurostat, the population of Sweden’s most densely populated areas increased by 1.73% in 2010 – which is more than three times the EU average. New figures show that the Stockholm region is expected to grow by a quarter (approxi – mately 500,000 people) by 2030. This makes it the fastest growing region in Western Europe, alongside Oslo, and the rate of growth is six times that of Paris, for example.

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