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TRAN Committee adopts Sustainable Urban Mobility Report

Posted: 10 November 2015 | Katie Sadler, Digital Content Producer, Intelligent Transport

The European Parliament TRAN Committee has voted to adopt a proposed Sustainable Urban Mobility Report emphasising the urgent need to make transport more sustainable. European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) has adapted its own initiative Report on Sustainable Urban Mobility in order to make urban transport more sustainable, in line with the objectives of the […]

TRAN Committee adopts Sustainable Urban Mobility Report

The European Parliament TRAN Committee has voted to adopt a proposed Sustainable Urban Mobility Report emphasising the urgent need to make transport more sustainable.

TRAN Committee adopts Sustainable Urban Mobility Report

European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) has adapted its own initiative Report on Sustainable Urban Mobility in order to make urban transport more sustainable, in line with the objectives of the European Commission’s 2011 Transport White Paper, and encourage a modal shift towards sustainable transport modes.  The report also calls on the European Commission to give active support to non-state actor initiatives on sustainable urban mobility due to be announced at this year’s UNFCCC COP21 negotiations as part of the Solutions Agenda that will help keep global warming at less than 2°C. 

Sustainable Urban Mobility Report welcomed by UNIFE and UITP

The move to adopt the Report has been welcomed by members of UNIFE, the European Rail Industry Association, and UITP, the International Association of Public Transport. Both parties stress that rail and public transport should play a central role in future EU policies on sustainable urban mobility, as it is the key part of the solution to urban challenges such as pollution, GHG emissions and congestion. UNIFE and UITP share the view of TRAN Committee, which stresses the need to make public transport more attractive for citizens and highlights the role of sustainable transport modes such as rail in freight and logistics, as well as underlining the importance of compact urban development built around public transport in solving environmental and congestion issues in cities.

UNIFE and UITP believe in order to boost sustainable mobility, adequate public funding, particularly at the EU level, should be ensured for rail and public transport projects in light of their high economic, environmental and social impacts. Both associations welcome the reference made by the TRAN Committee on the need to secure sufficient EU funds for future R&D activities in urban rail systems and to earmark revenues from road charging for investment into sustainable transport solutions.

“The rail industry is ready to cooperate with the EU institutions to make urban transport even more sustainable”

Philippe Citroën, Director General of UNIFE, commented: “The rail industry is ready to cooperate with the EU institutions to make urban transport even more sustainable. In order to reach this objective, further investments in rail-bound projects are essential. A number of financial instruments and funds, such as under the EFSI and the CEF, are already available and we believe that sustainable urban transport projects should benefit from these EU initiatives. UNIFE hopes that the TRAN Committee report adopted today is the first step towards an ambitious EU agenda for sustainable urban transport”.

Thomas Avanzata, Director of UITP’s European Department, added: “Public transport is the backbone of urban mobility and the TRAN report rightly highlights the significance of public transport for urban economies as well as recognising its environmental and social benefits to help to fight poverty, social exclusion and access to jobs for all citizens. As such, public transport needs to be at the core of any EU urban agenda as well as the solutions needed to scale up climate action at COP21”.

The TRAN Committee Report will be voted in plenary on 02 December 2015.