MARTA BOZHIKOVAMARTA BOZHIKOVA

MUNICIPALITY OF PLOVDIV MUNICIPALITY OF PLOVDIV

BULGARIABULGARIA

Mobility management in new EC Mobility management in new EC Member StatesMember States

The state-of-play in the town of Plovdiv, The state-of-play in the town of Plovdiv, BulgariaBulgaria

4 - 6 June 2008 4 - 6 June 2008

City of London, United KingdomCity of London, United Kingdom

• Location: in the centre of the Balkan Peninsula• Size: second largest city in Bulgaria with a

surface area of 101.981 km2

• Population: about 380 000 people constant residents• Unemployment rate: around 5%

THE THE THE CITY OF PLOVDIVTHE CITY OF PLOVDIV

THE CITY OF PLOVDIVTHE CITY OF PLOVDIV

CITYHALL

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVMobility managementMobility management

Mobility management ≈ transport and traffic management

2007 – first steps to a structured traffic and transport management

No public comprehension of the direct relation traffic - CO2 emissions

Weak public discussion on the topic.

• Plovdiv - one of the biggest territorial sources of air Plovdiv - one of the biggest territorial sources of air pollution in South Bulgariapollution in South Bulgaria- CO2 emissions are approximately 98 % of all the

harmful emissions in the atmosphere

• Main emissions caused by vehicles:Main emissions caused by vehicles:- 41,24 % of all the harmful emissions in the

atmosphere- Significant emissions of Nitrogen oxides caused by

diesel vehicles- Significant emissions of Carbon oxides caused by

petrol vehicles- Lead aerosol emissions

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVFacts from before 1990 Facts from before 1990

relevant to relevant to transport transport managementmanagement

Established and functional scheme of public transport Price preference for ‘loyalty’ and regular use of public transport

BUT:BUT: State monopoly of the public transport State monopoly of the public transport system: no competitionsystem: no competition

Taxi transport – 100% owned by the state Due to city industrialization - organized and well managed transport to and from the workplace Weak motorization of the population: 210 private cars/1000 inhabitants

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVChanges for the past 18 Changes for the past 18

yearsyears More than doubled motorization: 430 vehicles/1000

inhabitants Changed comprehension of traffic management and

public transport management Increased traffic related to daily migration Public transport privatization

Consequences:Consequences: Low traffic capacity of the streets Old public transport bus park, irregular and not reliable

public transport, decreased number of public transport lines

Lack of parking places – shortage of 74 % Huge number of taxi cabs – not controlled, emerge to

fill in the gap in organized transport Lack of investment in mobility measures

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVCurrent urban transport Current urban transport

situationsituation

Privatization of the mass bus transport: 6 private companies share the UT lines

Special “route taxis” – a combination between UT & taxi cabs, managed by a private company: faster and more flexible

Trolley – bus transport – highly outworn: 120 vehicles in the past : now only 20 vehicles in use;

A municipal company established to take care of the illegal parking - direct congestion management

Registration and control of all taxi cabs – technical requirements

Traffic lights equipped with light-emitting diode counters in favour of drivers when stopping and driving off cars

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVTransport management Transport management

measures measures currently implemented on currently implemented on local levellocal level

Modernization of the road infrastructure in compliance with the provisions of the new City master plan of 2007

Revival of the trolleybus transport Constant renewal of the urban transport buses (23% are

new and corresponding to the latest technologies) Granted subsidy from the State and the Municipality for

urban transport ticket price concessions for students, elderly people and disadvantaged

Offered services for hiring buses for the organized transport of companies’ workers and employees

The introduction of Internet based public services (e.g. for tax purposes)

Partly introduced “blue” parking zones Raising awareness campaigns

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CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIV

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVLocal level mobility Local level mobility

management management measuresmeasures

Sound devices installed on light controlled crossroads in favour of blind people

Gradual replacement of Urban Transport Bus Stops with modern and comfortable facilities

Municipality of Plovdiv is a partner in the “COMMERCE” project, funded by “Intelligent Energy – Europe” Programme

- No flexible working hours- No tax concessions for transport expenses when using

Urban Transport- No cards for tickets price reduction- No trade internet services

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVNational level mobility National level mobility

management management measuresmeasures

Targeted and consecutive policy for clean urban transport (on the basis of Operational program Regional Development)

Development of a Plan for sustainable urban transport (in compliance with the National Transport Strategic Plan);

Development of intermodal connections 50% tax reduction for cars equipped with catalyser

Note: These policies are in correspondence with EU approach to urban mobility, developed in the White book “European transport policies to 2010: time for taking decisions”

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVShort – term mobility Short – term mobility

management management measures plannedmeasures planned

Introduction of automatic traffic lights control and the “green wave” system

Expansion of “blue” parking zones in the central part of the city and construction of new parking areas in the outskirts of the central part

Internal highways reconstruction Reform of the internal railway transport in

correspondence with “S – bahn” building plan Elaboration of a “Master plan for transport

organization”

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVLong – term mobility Long – term mobility

management management measures plannedmeasures planned

Development of the internal railway transport in correspondence with “S – bahn” – by the end of 2025; the measure will benefit reduced traffic up to 30 – 40 %

Introduction of electrical transport

Control of the “commercial goods mobility”

Encouragement of public transport companies to introduce more CNG buses

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CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIV

Strengths:

CO2 emissions – no significant increase

Local authority good will for actions

Planned measures first steps

Weaknesses:

- Weak public awareness

- Insufficient funding for “soft” mobility measures

- No preferences for Urban Transport users

- No sufficient investments

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVStrengths and weaknessesStrengths and weaknesses

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIVConclusionsConclusions

City administration has already taken steps for mobility management taking into account the ecological situation, CO2 emissions reduction and the green system development

Local resources have been spent and are planned for future mobility management activities

More persistent policies should be followed in order to involve all actors and stakeholders into modern understanding of Mobility Management and CO2 emissions reduction

CITY OF PLOVDIVCITY OF PLOVDIV

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

Marta BozhikovaMarta BozhikovaMunicipality of PlovdivMunicipality of Plovdiv

Deputy Mayor “European Policies and International Deputy Mayor “European Policies and International Cooperation”Cooperation”

E-mail: m.bozhikova@plovdiv.bgE-mail: m.bozhikova@plovdiv.bgTel. +359 32/656 739Tel. +359 32/656 739

Fax. +359 32/632 781 Fax. +359 32/632 781 www.plovdiv.bgwww.plovdiv.bg