Challenge description

Local public transport in Rovereto has developed over the years, from urban transport service in the city of Rovereto towards transport service for the entire territory surrounding the city (Vallagarina). Service users have increased over the years, till 2013. In 2014 and 2015 users decreased.

Students represent 70% of the users, whereas workers use the service sporadically.Public transport covers 12% of urban travels, and 31% of travels from outside the city (8% by train).Modal shift from private motorised means of transport to public transport positively impacts on the quality of traffic, in particular if the strengthened public transport service will be perceived as competitive by the workers, responsible of those systematic flows that afflicts traffic during more critical rush hours.

Strengthening of public transport means making it appealing to users in terms of frequency, seating capacity, speed, timeliness, comfort, information, accessibility.

Challenge vision

In order public transport can contribute to the achieving of the objectives of a more sustainable mobility, it is necessary to give it desirable characteristics in terms of frequency, capacity, speed, regularity, comfort, accessibility and information.

Our recent review of the Public Transport Mobility Plan related to the area around the city of Rovereto has shown that the acquisition of new users is attainable by improving frequency and service on some high potential demand routes between the suburbs and the city centre ("strong axes"). Thanks to additional resources this enhancement will be implemented already since 2018.

It is really important that our commitment in terms of service improvement produces a a real increase in users and a corresponding reduction in private motorised traffic, both for environment and human health objectives and to reduce the pressure of cars on the centre of the city.

To achieve these objectives, in addition to strengthening the transport offer, indirect measures can be investigated (e.g.: discouraging parking in the city centre, traffic restrictions, services for modal interchange, etc.) or measures of to facilitate paradigm change (mobility management, information to users, communication, incentives, etc.).Furthermore, innovative and flexible forms of public transport service can be studied and eventually tested at a pilot level.

Participants are invited to discuss this type of initiative.