The main goal of LASTING (Lower Adriatic Sea - Transit Intermodal Networking Grid) project and the related LA-PIMS (Lower Adriatic - Passenger Integrated Mobility System) Strategic Plan, whose Guidelines are summarized below, is to foster regional coordination and streamlining of passenger flows within the Lower Adriatic area and into the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), calling for the relaunch of the Pan-European Corridor VIII. The project aims to improve the multimodal system of connections, based on analyses of passenger mobility in the Lower Adriatic, as well as to improve the connections between the main cross-border transit infrastructures and the trans-European corridors.
The Lower Adriatic region represents a strategic area to develop routes that could increase not only the connections among territories and cultures but also the economic development in terms of people and goods mobility. The aim of the guidelines is to identify potential strategies and calls to action that the Countries involved could develop in order to enhance multimodal connections within the area, make them more efficient and user-friendly. Drawing upon the research part that highlighted the difficulties faced by passengers and their expectations for the future, the proposed guidelines will consider the different interests of the multiple stakeholders involved in a more efficient transport network. First, for each strategy both the aspects for people and companies is discussed as well as the policy implications. For example, investors need to assess the prospective profitability of the strategic improvements, the infrastructure (port, airport) operators need to increase the service capacity or to introduce advanced technology to improve the efficiency, the political authorities have to determine how to plan the local economy structure to properly integrate in order to ensure the long-term prosperity of their territory.
Key points in the strategic development of the connection within the Lower Adriatic region aim to identify the following actions:
-
to integrate the terminals in a connected network, following the logic of an intermodal system that could grant not only an efficient of mobility of people and goods but also a better widespread diffusion of positive effects, whether economic or social;
-
to properly design the role and functions to improve on two different levels: at the inbound level to connect the coast with the inland and at the outbound level to connect with the TEN-T network;
-
to improve the connections between the infrastructures to increase the intermodality and the easiness of the transport/travel experience; for example, the connection between the port and the airport or station of Bari;
-
to improve both at the infrastructure and managerial level; for example, within the Maas logic and fostering the integration and cooperation between terminals such as making mobility more sustainable (i.e., greener, more efficient and healthier), using innovation, data and artificial intelligence for intelligent mobility, and enhancing transport safety.
Indeed, the guidelines will require not only a pure demand-side development policy, but also as facilities able to enhance face-to-face interactions and hence productivity in a labor-intensive industry like the service or tourism sector. Transport can help promote cohesion, reduce regional disparities, and improve connectivity and access to the internal market for the areas involved.
The report was prepared by Luca Petruzzellis - University of Bari “Aldo Moro” and Marco Petrelli - University of Roma Tre, in collaboration with international partners.
For further information you can consult the output section of the site: