Summary of results from workshops in Karlskrona.
Karlskrona 13th February, 2018: there were 43 participants at the workshop in Karlskrona, including six from the organizing team and two additional table leaders. Based on that, and the signature issues (3.1 )the organizing team decided to have groups focusing on five perspectives (Resource bases, Spatial, Technical and business models, Passenger needs, and Governance). There was an overweight on participants from publicly funded organizations (e.g. Region Blekinge, the Municipalities, and the Swedish Transport Administration), but also a few participants from companies involved in public transport (e.g. CGI, Food tankers, and Stena Line). Representatives from InnoBaltica from Gdansk (Poland) and HIE-RO from Rostock (Germany) provided their perspectives as well.
Vision : the session in Karlskrona about co-creation of a vision of a regional and cross-border public transport system for 2040 that is well on track towards sustainability can be summarized as: Public transport is the most competitive way of travelling (safe, easy to go with for everyone and everywhere, convenient, available when needed, trustworthy, fast, flexible, and affordable) powered by sustainable energy, and integrated with other transport modes.
Current reality: this is the authors’ abridged summary of the resulting notes from all groups on the current reality in Karlskrona (see appendix 2a for the complete workshop notes record). Fossil fuels dominate the mobility sector, but public transport is powered mostly by renewable fuels (buses, boats) and electricity (trains). Challenging to fit in public transport in new built environment as planning is still car focused and using a lot fo space for parking lots. There is a need for improved public transport regarding comfort, cleanliness, opportunities to be productive onboard, and pricing when combining different types of public transport. Jurisdictional aspect hinders collaboration between public transport operators. It is complicated to go abroad as it’s hard to buy tickets as a foreigner: language barriers, many different systems and actors, different tariffs and currencies. Decision makers focus on short term goals, and don’t dare to take necessary impopular decisions. Negative sustainability consequences from emissions from burning fuels, from use of scarce materials and heavy metals, and from use of productive surfaces for infrastructure.
This is the authors’ abridged summary of the resulting notes from all groups on key solutions towards the vision in Karlskrona (see appendix 2b for the complete workshop notes record). Increase the share of renewable energy and recycled/abundant materials and phase out fossil fuels. Coordinate with all relevant actors before early planning and decision making. Give priority to develop infrastructure for public transport, walking and biking, and combine planning for built environment and public transport. Make it simple for the traveler to buy tickets – work out international (at least EU) standards and establish a common e-ticketing system to include all public transport operators and private initiatives (e.g. flights, ferries, car pools). Support the travelers to meet their need of being productive onboard and have a safe, comfortable, and fast trip that can compete with travelling by car. Better partnership/collaboration between public transport stakeholders to increase efficiency.