Intermodality Promotion and Rail Renaissance in Adriatic – Ionian Region PLUS
Inter-Connect PLUS will tap into Inter-Connect project legacy and efficiently embed and tackle &#39;newcomers&#39; (risks mitigation, challenges confronting & also opportunities - arising from the European Green Deal and other initiatives on the programming period 2021-2027 - seizing) in the next day of passengers&#39; transportation in ADRION Region. COVID-19 pandemic outbreak was undoubtedly a shock event that, from March 2020, has much influenced our daily lives, not leaving aside our transportation habits. A large-scale experiment took place during the ‘hard’ months of March-May 2020, continuing up to the present with variations. Managing travel demand while respecting new protocols seems to be an unlocking tool for sustainable and well-connected areas since ‘back to normality’ carries risks; private cars are there after lockdowns returning or even, in some cases worsening, congestion and pollution levels.

Inter-Connect PLUS comes exactly at this crucial moment, the moment of transformation for ADRION Region’s connectivity starting from the intra areas mobility and going up to transnational links. It builds on Inter-Connect first generation results and brings them one step ahead by adding the knowledge and experience gained from the pandemic – it revitalizes Inter-Connect laboratories (Igoumenitsa – Region of Epirus GR, Bologna – Region Emilia Romagna IT, Trieste – Friuli Venezia Region IT, Ljubljana – SL, Zagreb – HR, Durres - AL) focusing on incorporating the new norms (COVID-19 related policies and practices resulting) into Inter-Connect Roadmap (project strategy upgrade), revising pilots (new pilot actions) and guaranteeing the intense targeted communication of the results to national/regional/local stakeholders and citizens (updated communication strategy, Inter-Connect network mobilization, ADRION clusters interface, a sequel of interlinked public events). Joint reflection (during capacity building activities, via Inter-Connect toolkit update and Roadmap promotion) on intermodal public and active transport based passengers’ mobility is estimated to trigger investment in real long lasting actions for strengthening area’s connectivity, cohesion and convergence with pioneer EU countries.