SUMP Training and Capacity Building in EU countries

SUMP (Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans) Training and Capacity Building in EU countriesntegrate

TRT, supported by a consortium of six companies (DTV Consultants, TREDIT, TIS, Stratec, Goudappel, and Eurocities), has been appointed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to provide SUMP Training and Capacity Building activities in multiple EU countries.

The primary goal of the project is to enhance the expertise of urban and regional transport planners, as well as newcomers, focusing on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and offering centralized support for their implementation at the local and regional levels.

The project entails a comprehensive program encompassing more than 20 training sessions and workshops in less than 2 years, covering SUMPs, National SUMP Support Programmes (NSSP), and Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators (SUMI) monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

The project aims to improve the technical and policy expertise of urban transport planners regarding SUMPs and facilitate their implementation at city or regional levels. It targets local training for TEN-T urban nodes, Cities Mission cities, and small/medium-sized EU cities, alongside capacity-building workshops to assist in establishing NSSPs at the national/regional levels. This initiative is crucial for implementing the Commission Recommendation on NSSPs, bridging capacity gaps in smaller cities, and ensuring national engagement and support.

Aligned with the New EU Urban Mobility Framework, the training sessions will be focused on various SUMP aspects, including governance, legislation, funding, monitoring, evaluation, guidelines, methodology, education, and knowledge exchange through NSSPs. The training approach blends fundamental SUMP knowledge with the latest mobility, technology, and societal developments through a flipped classroom methodology.

The ultimate goal of the project is to strengthen SUMP implementation and governance across Europe by addressing key aspects of modern mobility planning, including monitoring tools, legal frameworks, and financial commitment, while tailoring activities based on Member States’ specific needs and interests.

The SUMP training and NSSP workshops will be delivered by 4 key experts: José Viegas, who will act as Project Manager, and Peter Jones, Aljaž Plevnik, and Christiaan Kwantes, who will be the training Urban Transport Planning Experts. In addition, they will be supported by a pool of Non-Key Experts with a vast experience in the different fields of the urban mobility domain.

The SUMP trainings will cover a wide range of topics, including SUMP methodology, strategic planning, urban transport, organizational aspects, climate change, environmental considerations, stakeholder engagement, promotion, demand analysis, spatial planning, freight, innovation, safety, and social inclusion.

The NSSP workshops will encompass several aspects, including NSSP concepts, EC guidance, guest speakers, Q&A sessions, breakout group discussions, systemic barriers, national legislations, SUMP financial support, SUMP platforms, SUMP guidance, and monitoring and evaluation at the national level.

Finally, the Consortium possesses a comprehensive range of expertise in various aspects of SUMPs, including consultancy, policy guidance, training, communication, and networking in the field of urban mobility, with a strong track record of successfully managing complex policy projects for the European Commission and other international institutions, established partnerships and communication channels, extensive knowledge of EU mobility planning policies, and a deep understanding of common issues and barriers encountered in SUMPs development and implementation.