The Experience of Barcelona Provincial Council in the Assessment of Urban Mobility Plans (PMUs)

Informe: The Experience of Barcelona Provincial Council in the Assessment of Urban Mobility Plans (PMUs) Paloma Sánchez-Contador Head of the Technical Office for Mobility and Local Road Safety, Barcelona Provincial Council

Contents • Barcelona Provincial Council and the current regulatory framework for mobility in Catalonia • Ex-ante and ex-post assessment • Obstacles that can hinder the correct development of a PMU • Criteria for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU • Barcelona Provincial Council's proposal for implementing PMUs • Conclusions

Barcelona Provincial Council and the current regulatory framework for mobility in Catalonia About us 311 towns in the network. Direct action by providing services and, above all, by cooperating with town councils. Source: INE, January 2006.

Barcelona Provincial Council and the current regulatory framework for mobility in Catalonia BARCELONA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL Highway laws and regulations. Road safety: • Project • Maintenance Mandate Action Plan. 2008-2011 COURSE OF ACTION: local mobility SCOPE: sustainable territorial action Basic network Local network Neighbourhood network Preferred pedestrian routes Scope of special plan Old centre FUTURE CIRCULATION PLAN

Barcelona Provincial Council and the current regulatory framework for mobility in Catalonia Regulatory framework in Catalonia Mobility Law Approved in 2003 Towns > 50,000 Regional capitals Urban Mobility Plan (PMU)(24) Decree 344 / 2006 regulatingstudies to assess generated mobility (EAMG) All towns EAMG POUM EAMG associated planning EAMG singular implementations Action Plan to Improve Air Quality in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona Approved in 2007 40 towns in the BMA PMU Public Building Transport Plan (32) Company Transport Plan Master Mobility Plan of the BMA Approved in 2008 Towns > 20,000 in the BMA PMU Public Building Transport Plan Company Transport Plan Taxi Law Approved in 2003 Catalonia Taxi licence studies

Barcelona Provincial Council and the current regulatory framework for mobility in Catalonia PMUs in the province of Barcelona Compulsory (Mobility Law) Compulsory (Decree on atmospheric pollution) Compulsory (Master Mobility Plan of the BMA) • More than 56 towns in the province of Barcelona are obliged to implement a PMU. • Currently 3 PMUs have been completed; the rest are in progress or have yet to start. Challenge: how can we develop these PMUs in order to facilitate subsequent assessment and monitoring?

Barcelona Provincial Council and the current regulatory framework for mobility in Catalonia Barcelona Provincial Council Mandate Action Plan 2008-2011 Specific policy on mobility in the Mandate Action Plan: Content: • Mobility plans • Studies to assess generated mobility • Mobility studies • Specific studies • Workplace access plans • Training (mobility and road safety courses) • Dissemination (MOBAL website)

Barcelona Provincial Council and the current regulatory framework for mobility in Catalonia Types of applications2008 - 2011 Total 91 studies Studies/plans imposed by law (bold) 41 Studies/plans imposed due to municipal needs 50

2. Ex-ante and ex-post assessment When to assess? All the manuals on the preparation of mobility plans agree that assessment is essential at two points of their development: A) During the preparation of the plan (ex-ante), regarding the selection of the strategies and actions that are finally to be incorporated into the plan. B) During the implementation of the plan (ex-post), as subsequent monitoring by means of a system of indicators that enable the assessment of the success of the proposed objectives.

2. Ex-ante and ex-post assessment Current mobility assessment: The mobility plan assessment processes currently in place are: Ex- ante The PMU establishes assessment mechanisms by considering different future scenarios and choosing the best. PMU – Foresight Studies to assess generated mobility (EAMG) enable the determination of the increase in mobility produced by new urban developments and the proposal of corrective measures. Urban planning Strategic environmental assessment determines the impact on the environment and possible measures to be taken. Environment Ex- post The Mobility Law dictates that the PMU is to be updated every 6 years. Assessment by means of comparing the indicators established in the design of the plan with the actual results obtained. PMU – renewal 6 years The methodology for assessing the PMU is not determined during its period of validity (6 years). ----- Barcelona Provincial Council has started to work on the development and monitoring of the PMUs during their 6-year period of applicability.

2. Ex-ante and ex-post assessment Our experience: However, the experience of Barcelona Provincial Council over the last 6 years of mobility plan assessment is centred on the assessment of the processes required to undertake them and especially on the identification of the formal aspects that condition their subsequent implementation. This assessment has been carried out based on: • Surveys of the municipal technicians and politicians that annually attend the mobility conferences. • The assessment of the mobility studies implemented from 2004 to 2008. • The conclusions of the working groups with mobility technicians from the different towns within the province. • The knowledge acquired over the last 6 years from undertaking 35 mobility studies.

Autonomous Communities Indeterminacy Prior Subsequent Town planning Delimitation O O Subsequent Prior Territory Agreement O O Subsequent Prior Work Time Managers PDM Prior Subsequent Planner PGOU 3. Obstacles that can hinder the correct development of a PMU The 4 obstacles (O) that can hinder the development of PMUs

Autonomous Communities T Subsequent Agreement Town planning Prior 3. Obstacles that can hinder the correct development of a PMU Obstacle 1. The lack of an agreement that determines the legality, the preparation procedure and the funding mechanisms of the PMUs. • PMUs have no legal consideration, which means that nothing determined within them is binding. • Mechanisms to coordinate urban development and mobility plans are not established. • There is no stable framework for funding a mobility plan’s proposals.

T Indeterminacy Territory Prior Delimitation Subsequent 3. Obstacles that can hinder the correct development of a PMU Obstacle 2. The lack of determinacy on the territorial front that urban mobility plans must include. • From the territorial point of view, the study scope of the Urban Mobility Plan is the functional town, given that it covers a territory with interdependent mobility. • From the point of view of the town, the study scope of the mobility plan is the municipal area, given that its management is more dynamic. PDM PGOU

T Prior Time PDM Subsequent PGOU 3. Obstacles that can hinder the correct development of a PMU Obstacle 3. The lack of a deadline for approving PMUs (sine die obligation). • The Mobility Law does not determine deadlines for the councils to start or approve their PMUs. • Limited development of the PMUs (3 of 56) in the province of Barcelona. • The execution time of a PMU is long (2 years), which makes it difficult to obtain results in one political legislature. • It is advisable to undertake a PMU after the implementation of the Master Mobility Plan (PDM) of the region and before the implementation or review of urban development and planning.

T Work 3. Obstacles that can hinder the correct development of a PMU Obstacle 4. The lack of experience and knowledge when faced with a new work method for planning and managing local mobility. • Sustainable mobility is a relatively new concept (10 years) and a great deal of training is required for technical and political teams. • The political leadership of the PMU is a key aspect of its development (mainly due to the lack of regulatory powers). • Coordination of the different departments and administrations is required for the correct development of the plan. Subsequent Managers Prior Planner PGOU

Public/private PGOU Prior Subsequent Public/private Special plan P P Prior Subsequent Pact Plan P P Subsequent Prior Short / mid term Budget Programme private Prior Subsequent Long term public 4. Provisions for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU The 4 provisions (P) that can facilitate thedevelopment of PMUs

Public/private P Subsequent Pact Public/private Prior 4. Provisions for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU Provision 1. The formalisation of pacts for committing all the agents involved to the preparation and management of the mobility plan. Creation of coordination and agreement spaces: • On the political level: Municipal Mobility Commission • On the technical level: working group on mobility • On the social level: Local Mobility Council Constitution of Granollers Mobility Council. 2007

P PGOU Plan Prior Special plan Subsequent 4. Provisions for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU Provision 2. The incorporation of the criteria and determinations of the PMU in municipal urban development and planning instruments. • Inclusion of mobility proposals in the municipal urban development plans of the town to take advantage of their greater regulatory power (they are compulsory). Mobility planning must be undertaken, then, prior to urban development and planning. • The dimensioning and hierarchy of the different mobility networks (pedestrian, bicycle, public transport, private cars) must guide and define the uses of each street in connection with urban development criteria.

4. Provisions for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU Provision 2. The incorporation of the criteria and determinations of the PMU in municipal urban development and planning instruments. Basic network Local network Neighbourhood network Basic network Preferred pedestrian routes Scope of special plan Old centre Secondary network FUTURE CIRCULATION PLAN Neighbourhood network

P Prior Programme Short/mid term Subsequent Long term 4. Provisions for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU Provision 3. The preparation of the PMU Action Programme (6 years) and the approval of the work plan of the first year. • The programme of actions of an Urban Mobility Plan must determine the agents responsible for carrying out each action and, if possible, the commitment of these agents should be agreed. • It is advisable for the town council to approve an annual programme of actions in order to enable better monitoring of the plan. • The programme must be ‘open’ in order to facilitate the incorporation of changes to the proposals if new needs or opportunities arise throughout the six-year period.

4. Provisions for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU Provision 3. The preparation of the PMU Action Programme (6 years) and the approval of the work plan of the first year. Cost estimate: €22 M Municipal support/ADIF 9% DPTOP 49% Town councils 4% Businesses and others 3% UAB 35% • The mobility plan of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) determines the percentage to be contributed by the different agents involved.

P Subsequent Budget Private Prior Public 4. Provisions for facilitating the development, monitoring and assessment of a PMU Provision 4. The establishment of the budgetary programming instruments of the PMU to fund the infrastructure and transport services. • It is necessary to assign agreed funding sources to the budgetary actions proposed in the mobility plan. • The mobility plan will give rise to public transport service plans and infrastructure investment programmes.

5. Barcelona Provincial Council's proposal for implementing urban mobility plans Barcelona Provincial Council – Infrastructure and Mobility Services Division Town councils in the province of Barcelona Scope of cooperation and assistance A B C PMU implementation PMU manager training Networkmanagement • Technical assistance • Economic cooperation • PMU monitoring • Network of urban mobility plan managers (MOBAL NETWORK) • Local mobility planning and management courses • Localmobilityconferences PROVINCIAL COUNCIL – TOWN COUNCIL AGREEMENT

5. Barcelona Provincial Council's proposal for implementing urban mobility plans A) Implementation of urban mobility plans TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – Barcelona Provincial Council provides advice and technical assistance for the development of a sustainable mobility plan. COORDINATION – Foster the creation of an internal commission within the town council to facilitate coordination between mobility and urban planning. PARTICIPATION – Foster the participation of citizens through the creation of the Municipal Mobility Council and the preparation of a citizen participation plan. Citizen participation must go hand in hand with development. CO-FUNDING – Barcelona Provincial Council contributes part of the cost of the PMU, and the town council contributes the rest. Shared responsibility with the town council. FUNCTIONAL TOWN – The territorial scope of reference must be the functional town in the analysis and diagnosis, whereas the proposals are carried out on a municipal level but in a coordinated manner (example: Granollers).

5. Barcelona Provincial Council's proposal for implementing urban mobility plans B) Training of urban mobility plan managers By means of the agreement with the town councils, free training is provided to the technicians of the towns developing urban mobility plans.

5. Barcelona Provincial Council's proposal for implementing urban mobility plans B) Training of urban mobility plan managers

5. Barcelona Provincial Council's proposal for implementing urban mobility plans C) Network management: MOBAL network In 2007, the MOBAL network was developed. It is a web portal on the subject of local mobility and its objectives are as follows: MUNICIPAL SUPPORT – Creation of a permanent technical support space for the towns developing mobility plans. COORDINATION – Facilitation of the information (mainly mobility plans already implemented) that enables better coordination of the actions undertaken by a town council. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER – Fostering of the transfer of knowledge based on the exchange of good practices and specific technical documentation. MOBILITY MANAGER – Strengthening the role of the local mobility manager. NETWORK CREATION – Creation of a network of the different local mobility managers in the province with the incorporation of the other agents involved (companies, universities, etc.).

5. Barcelona Provincial Council's proposal for implementing urban mobility plans C) Network management: MOBAL network 430 registered users 120 companies 3 years in operation 15,000 visits per year Municipal information Mobility plans Accessibility plans Technician directory Good practices Company directory Job vacancies Search for financing News Agenda Technical reports Training Monthly newsletter http://xarxamobal.diba.cat

6. Summary and Conclusions NEED FOR PMU ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES – In 5 years we will have 56 PMUs, which will all need to be assessed and monitored. We have to think about how to do this. EX-POST ASSESSMENT – We know how to carry out ex-ante assessment (EAMG and strategic environmental assessment), but we have no ex-post experience. KEY ELEMENTS – For good monitoring and assessment we need a good plan and good management methodology: trained technicians + network. Barcelona Provincial Council must assume the role of facilitator of these three conditioning factors. COMMITMENT – Forming an agreement with the town councils before starting the Urban Mobility Plan enables us to establish the bases for fostering a permanent and long-term work dynamic. It also enables us to avoid drafting costly documents that become useless due to a lack of coordination with other public policies established by the town council and other public administrations.

Informe: The Experience of Barcelona Provincial Council in the Assessment of Urban Mobility Plans (PMUs) Paloma Sánchez-Contador Head of the Technical Office for Mobility and Local Road Safety, Barcelona Provincial Council

The Experience of Barcelona Provincial Council in the Assessment of Urban Mobility Plans (PMUs)