Sharing Insights on Public Transport and Urban Planning
The Intermunicipal Community of Coimbra Region (CIM-RC) recently hosted a two-day staff exchange, on 11 and 12 July, with the Transport & Mobility Forum Cork and The Environmental Forum, in which the University of Aveiro took also part. The staff exchange main topic was focusing on the region's ambitious mobility strategy.
The staff exchange was particularly interesting to Cork, The Environmental Forum, to learn how the region has been tackling the challenges of hilly areas, remote areas, and how it is possible to link these with the already developed public transport network. Thus, most of the sessions were devoted to highlight specific details about the practices that have being implemented in Coimbra Region to promote more sustainable mobility solutions in the region.
At the heart of the discussions was the CIM-RC's role as a Transport Authority, overseeing the development of a comprehensive public road passenger service network through a public tender. A key highlight was the creation of AGIT, the Agency for the Management of the Intermodal System of the Coimbra Region, which aims to streamline fares and ticketing across different transport modes.
The exchange also delved into innovative mobility solutions such as flexible transport on demand (SIT Flexi) and the Mondego Mobility System (MetroBus). The latter, a rapid bus transit system, is set to be expanded to neighboring municipalities, enhancing connectivity within the region. Discussions and exchange of experience were also focused on the improvement of the rail service in the Coimbra region, with the extension of the urban service to the entire region, and also the strong efforts that have been gathered to expand the cycling network in the Coimbra region and the EuroVelo1 route.
To complement the discussions, participants embarked on technical visits to showcase Coimbra's mobility initiatives firsthand. A journey on the electric-powered "Botânico" bus line, which traverses the city's botanical garden and major tourist attractions, provided a glimpse into the region's commitment to sustainable transport.
The Mondego Mobility System's "Praça 25 de Abril" stop was another highlight, demonstrating how the project is transforming the area into a true intermodal hub. The visit underscored the importance of community engagement as the project was adapted to preserve centenary trees in the square.
The staff exchange was a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and development. There was room to share and comparing Coimbra's initiatives with those of Cork that can help identify areas for improvement and optimization. The practices highlighted in the meeting were relevant to improve staff capacity with respect to problem-solving solutions: by collaboratively addressing common challenges can lead to innovative solutions that can be transferred to other regions, which makes staff exchange crucial to maximize the potential to drive positive change in both regions.