This year, in June 2023 Viladecans launched one of the two URBACT IV networks in which it participates: Plans for Urban Mobility Actions (PUMA) that aims at achieving climate-neutral and sustainable urban mobility in small and medium sized cities. PUMA is led by the city of Liepaja (Latvia) and involves European cities such as Dienvidkurzeme (Latvia), Cento (Italy), Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Larissa (Greece), Gdansk (Poland), Taurage region (Lithuania) and the Faculty of Transport Sciences and Traffic, University of Zagreb (Croatia). It was precisely in Liepaja where the first transnational meeting was held on 18 and 19 October 2023. The project partners had the opportunity to meet each other in person and kicked off a project in which for two and a half years the main challenges of urban mobility in small and medium-sized cities will be addressed.
During this meeting the partners started discussing, guided by the network Lead Expert Karolina Orcholska and accompanied by the communication officer of URBACT Secretariat, Stephanie Weber, the various realities in relation to sustainable mobility in the different cities and also to define some common general challenges that will be addressed during the project, such as the decarbonisation of mobility, the change of mobility habits, accessibility and inclusivity of different transport modes, etc. There was also time for some site visits both in Liepaja and in Grobina, a municipality 16 km away.
As summarised by Karolina Orcholska in her article “PUMA - it is all about PEOPLE!”, it was a meeting of people who believe in change, people committed to their work and proud of their cities and areas. Committed public administration workers are the backbone of effective governance and the engine of transformative change in communities.
On 2nd and 3rd November, Karolina Orcholska (PUMA Lead Expert) visited Viladecans to get to know the challenges and characteristics of urban mobility in our city. During her 2-day visit, a workshop was organized to start defining Viladecans’ Integrated Action Plan (IAP), which will be the main result of the PUMA project. In addition to this activity, the members of Viladecans team began to reflect on the composition of the URBACT Local Group (ULG), that is, the group of local stakeholders that will jointly reflect on Viladecans Integrated Action Plan which will aim to promote a more sustainable urban mobility. Finally, some strategic spots and areas for mobility in Viladecans were visited, such as C-245 road, Vial de Cornissa (Ring Road) and some pedestrianised streets in the city centre. Viladecans looks forward to continue working with PUMA partners on sustainable urban mobility in small and medium size cities!
PUMA, which is part of the European URBACT program, is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.