Description
Urban freight transport (UFT) is indispensable for the city’s economy but at the same time negatively affects the environment.The objective of the project is to review, compare and analyse the actions regarding the environmental friendly UFT and to determine the conditions for the implementation of good practices. The objective will be achieved by surveys, analysis and efficient knowledge sharing as well as implementation of Freight Quality Partnership as the cooperation platform. The results are addressed to UFT stakeholders (municipalities, freight and logistics operators, deliverers, inhabitants, organizations and universities). The Institute of Transport Economics will be responsible for analysis and dissemination in Norway and will participate as the mentor site in proper implementation of other tasks. Cooperation between Polish and Norwegian cities at the area of development of the sustainable UFT based on knowledge sharing and support for the adaptation of good practices.
Summary of project results
Urban areas represent particular challenges for freight transport, both in terms of logistical performance and environmental impacts. In the course of the work carried out within different EU projects focusing on urban freight transport, one notices several difficulties in the implementation of environmentally friendly measures, such as conflicting expectations of UFT stakeholders and the lack of data regarding UFT demand and its environmental impact. For this reason, it was necessary to initiate cooperation to enable the proper dissemination of knowledge and experience, and to allow the common objectives identification and preparing the proper development strategies, based on the search for a compromise. Implementing the partnership for environmentally friendly UFT was the background of the activities in the project. A comparative analysis of initiatives for more environmental friendly UFT systems in Norway and Poland has been carried out. Based on this analysis, a knowledge-sharing workshop was held in Oslo. This was an opportunity to exchange knowledge between local or regional authorities and business representatives as well as the researchers. At the next stage of the project, the analysis at the area of Szczecin centre and chosen Oslo streets was realized. It was the biggest research effort in Poland and Norway to date focused on UFT demand. All results were used for preparation of the model of freight transport’s pollution propagation at urban area. This model was implemented as a web tool (grassproject.eu). To address the problem with conflicted expectations of different UFT stakeholders, the experimental Freight Quality Partnership has been developed in Szczecin. The analysis of Szczecin UFT problems have been done as well as the framework for the implementations of environmental friendly measures has been established. The important long-term outcome is the continuation of cooperation as a partnership in Szczecin and next projects (founded already or planned for submission) focus on implementation of UFT measures. The important achievement of dissemination and knowledge sharing was the International Conference “Green Cities– Green Logistics for Greener Cities”. Many well-known specialist, scientists and practitioners, in city logistics have been participated In two editions (2014 and 2016). Next edition of this conference is planned in 2018.
Summary of bilateral results
Cooperation between the Maritime University of Szczecin (MUS) and the Institute of Transport Economics (TOI) in the GRASS project has significantly expanded the knowledge concerning urban freight transport challenges and experiences with implementing environmentally friendly measures. Suggestions for solutions to solve the challenges in Szczecin and Oslo were presented in many reports and during workshops, working meetings and conferences, including two editions of the International Conference ”Green Cities – Green Logistics for Greener Cities” organized by both partners during the project period. Organizing and participating in working meetings, conferences and workshops has given MUS and TOI an extended network of researchers, universities, research institutes as well as the other UFT stakeholders with the special attention on the local and regional authorities. Experiences, research results and knowledge from the GRASS project was important input when applying and later accomplishing a project Sustainable Urban Logistic Plans in Norway, funded by Norwegian Research Council as well as the project Low Carbon Logistics, founded under Interreg South Baltic Programme 2014-2020. Activities in the GRASS project together with other activities were a reason to establish a new research areaat TOI – “Logistics and innovation”. An important added value for both partners is the background for the wider cooperation between them as well as the other UFT stakeholders after the project period. Based on GRASS experiences the strong cooperation with round table meetings participants will be continue. It is planned to sustain and develop the idea of Freight Quality Partnership. Also it will be expanded to whole Szczecin Metropolitan Area. Currently, the details of corporation are established with Association of Szczecin Metropolitan Area and Szczecin Municipality. Also the cooperation with GRASS partners will be continued in future projects. For the next Horizon 2020 Call on Work programme 2016-2017 11. “Smart, green and integrated transport” MUS and TOI are planning to collaborate on proposals answering topic MG 5.2-2017, focusing on development of interactive on-line map tool for analysis of pollution propagation from UFT systems with the interfaces for the external data sources. The second proposal is planned for MG 7.3-2017 and it will be focusing on efficient port operations serving the hinterland cities with sustainable cargo handling and logistic services.