The project aims to define and test methods and tools to optimize public transport (PT) networks in small and medium-sized cities in Central Europe through integration with urban planning and data-driven approaches, while also making PT more eco-friendly. This approach is innovative because it considers the interdependent relationship between land use and transport and recognizes the importance of data-driven decision making in PT planning.

The project involves 9 partners from Croatia, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovenia, and 8 associated partners. It will directly benefit 6 pilot areas in which facing concrete challenges such as the slow recovery of the number of public transport passengers after the COVID-19 period. To do this, the cooperation between the partners aims to optimize, model and pilot public transport networks in 5 different countries with a unified approach.

TU Wien is the co-leader, together with Poliedra, on WP 1: “Analysis and Planning”, which involves supporting and accompanying Partners in the detailed analysis of existing public transport networks and public transport planning practices and integration with spatial planning in selected small and medium-sized cities in Central Europe. It will also carry out the Land-Use and Transport Interaction (LUTI) simulations for three study areas. Finally, it will see the development of a comprehensive strategy for a sustainable and more efficient public transport network.