European model for Public Transport Authority as a key factor leading to transport sustainability.
The EU has established policy goals to achieve a more sustainable transport system.The complexity of meeting the mobility needs of all its citizens requires a clearer vision and an effective and coordinated governance approach. It is important for policy makers and local governments to coordinate competences among different stakeholders at different levels within a clear and proper policy framework. In order to increase transport sustainability, with specific actions on public transport, different approaches were already adopted, among which the establishment of specific authorities. These authorities (Public Transport Authorities–PTAs or Organising Authorities–OAs) act in the public interest and ensure a well functioning integrated transport system within their territory, but competencies and tasks are often different, making it difficult to identify a successful MODEL. PTA as entity can be centralised (office in the local government) or decentralised (separate public owned company)
depending on political choice.The EPTA proposal aims at increasing public transport sustainability focussing on environmental, energy and economic aspects through the identification of a MODEL of PTA as a powerful tool of governance.As a strategy the use of 3 leverages such as Quality, Efficiency and Efficacy will be applied to the 7 key activities related to public transport sector governance: Regulate, Plan, Tender/Award, Integrate, Promote, Manage, Control. The key concept is that these 7 activities should be concentrated in a single body able to support policy makers and involve relevant stakeholders. Good practices across Europe will be identified, collected and transferred into regional development policies, to produce, as final result, a transferable and customizable MODEL to be adopted for the successful implementation or re-organization of a PTA. The consortium is made of 11 partners (PTAs, a Region, Local Governments, a Network and a University with Internationally recognised
key expertise in public transport) from 9 EU Regions and 1 from Norway. The project is designed to include partners representing the main competences involved in mobility governance and embrace different perspectives on the issue.The EPTA structure provides an ideal context for exchanging experiences and good practices regarding PTAs activities and mission. The work planned includes: 1)exchange and sharing of experience on how to develop and operate a PTA through a series of training courses and workshops; 2)consolidation and transfer of good practices among involved areas; 3)promotion of policy tools and regulatory guidelines at local, regional, national levels for PTA establishment and organization.The project outcomes and durable results include: experiences exchange to increase skills and awareness among key policy makers on PTA MODEL for improving sustainable, economic and energy efficiency in public transport. Positive social side effects will also result as indirect added value.