In the frame of the Tyrolean Mobility Days 2022, the 5th EUSALP Mobility Conference took place on May 13th in Innsbruck, gathering 75 participants, both in presence and online. At the event Action Group 4 co-lead EGTC European Region Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino presented the Declaration on Rail Transport in the Alpine Region, a contribution by EUSALP to join forces for a sustainable transport and mobility system, building on the European Year of Rail 2021. 15 Alpine regions officially declared their support by means of a Letter of Support. The Declaration calls on the European Union to create a level-playing field between transport modes as basic requirement for an effective modal shift, to optimise the potential of rail to serve as the backbone of a connected transport system and to improve infrastructure provisions for rail transport.
The Mobility Conference was the occasion to present in a physical poster exhibition the 20 EUSALP AG4 labelled projects that demonstrate sustainable mobility solutions in the Alpine Region from a macroregional perspective.
The event on May 13th concluded with a political roundtable on greening mobility. Regional Councillor of the AG4 co-lead Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Laurence Boetti-Forestier, host and Deputy Governor of Tyrol Ingrid Felipe, Councillor Graziano Pizzimenti of the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Member of the European Parliament Barbara Thaler debated the current mobility challenges in the Alpine Region in light of future developments towards a carbon-free Europe by 2050.
The Brenner Corridor Platform and the iMONITRAF! network provided concrete figures on transalpine traffic flows with scenarios and pathways for 2030 and 2040, taking into account the opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel and the urgent need for accompanying rail and terminal infrastructure as well as ambitious policy measures for modal shift from road to rail.
In a dedicated session on passenger transport, mobility stakeholders presented and discussed concrete solutions for a more sustainable Alpine macro-region including multimodal travel information, mobility services for tourists and commuters, and recommendations on sustainable travel by the EUSALP Youth Council.
The European Commission presented current legislation in transport with a focus on the ongoing revision of the TEN-T Regulation for improved infrastructure and connectivity across the EU, with seven out of nine core network corridors crossing the Alpine Region.
Current EUSALP President and Governor of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol and Arno Kompatscher highlighted the ambitious transport policy of South Tyrol. Digitalisation is a key element for more competitive freight transport along the Brenner corridor. Austrian Federal Minister for Climate Action Leonore Gewessler emphasised the need for common action to achieve the European Green Deal with an ambitious transport policy.
According to Barbara Thaler, the joint declaration on rail transport provides momentum and encouragement for policy-makers for which reason she is willing to address the rail declaration in the European Parliament.
The fifth EUSALP Mobility Conference concluded the Tyrolean Mobility Days 2022, which strengthened the cooperation between the transnational working bodies EUSALP AG4, iMONITRAF! and the Brenner Corridor Platform. As part of the programme, Deputy Governor Ingrid Felipe welcomed delegates to the technical visit on May 11th. Participants gained first-hand insights on how Tyrol deals with rising numbers of heavy-goods vehicles and how to shift goods from road to rail in order to reduce the negative effects of transport on people and the environment in the Alps and to reduce CO2 emissions.
