Not only words, but actions needed

Between April and September 2006 the urban transport plans and policies of all 12 partner cities in BUSTRIP (Baltic Urban Sustainable Transport Implementation and Planning) project have been peer reviewed by transport experts from other partner cities. The BUSTRIP cities use the findings and the best practices identified in the reviews in next steps of the process of developing Sustainable Urban Transport Plan (SUTP) and in starting the implementation of the plan by pilot actions.

The Peer review assessments have been done against a SUTP benchmark. It is an ideal that describes the characteristics that should be evident within SUTP. The findings of the reviews show that the cities despite of different size, society and stage of transport planning share rather common strengths and are facing similar challenges on their way to develop sustainable urban transport plans, policies and behaviour.

The findings show that many cities have great visions and plans for sustainable transport, but they are not integrated, and very often there are just nice words without any actions taken. Another key finding is that a real cross-sectoral cooperation within the city and on regional level is a necessity for succeeding in the development and implementation of SUTP.

BUSTRIP continues until the end of 2007, and while the cities take the next steps towards SUTP and its implementation, the project coordination team has started the preparations of the main outcome of the project, the SUTP toolbox. This practical tool will give comprehensive guidance on SUTP and will enable other BSR and European cities to follow the BUSTRIP model towards Sustainable Urban Transport.