In the framework of the revision process of the European Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans guidelines (SUMP 2.0), the CoEXist project has produced a practitioner briefing on automated transport in cities. The first version of this guidance document was presented for the first time at the European SUMP Conference in Groningen (the Netherlands), on 17 June 2019.
The original version of the European SUMP Guidelines were published in 2013 as a complement to the 2013 Urban Mobility Package adopted by the European Commission. The SUMP guidelines aim at guiding cities and regions working towards the implementation of a more sustainable and more integrated urban mobility in their streets. It also introduces some key mobility planning principles such as the integration of mobility modes, the consultation of the population or the cooperation with other institutions and organisations.
Update of the SUMP guidance documents
The guidelines quickly became a reference document for the local authorities in Europe which are developing a SUMP. However, when the guidelines were adopted in 2013, several mobility solutions which are emerging today were only in their first development phases. As a consequence, these innovations – including connected and automated driving – were not covered.
In 2019, the SUMP guidelines are being updated to better reflect the latest mobility trends. In addition, a series of topic guide documents are being developed on specific topics in order to address mobility issues and areas which deserve a particular attention.
Including automation in sustainable urban mobility planning
Based on the work made for the Automation-Ready Framework, CoEXist has been in charge of drafting the “Practitioner Briefing: Road vehicle automation in sustainable urban mobility planning”.
The aim of this practitioner briefing is to provide guidance and best practice examples in order to increase the capacity of cities to introduce connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) into their sustainable urban mobility planning processes. This guidance document includes a detailed consideration of Connected and Automated Driving (CAD) from a planning perspective, mapping for the main uncertainties resulting from CAVs and guiding principles on how to mitigate these uncertainties. It also provides recommendation on how the eight SUMP principles can be applied in the context of CAVs.
The document guides planning practitioners and stakeholders by discussing the key factors and actions that need to be considered, in the frame of the SUMP cycle, to address road vehicle automation in the planning process. Among the main recommendations, it highlights the importance of raising awareness and building capacities among local practitioners, about the challenges and opportunities of such an innovative and complex technology. In addition, it recognises the need of adequate transport modelling tools to assess the potential impacts of CAV deployment and make informed decisions. A special consideration is made about the vital relation between public transport and CAD.
Give your opinion
The document was presented officially at the EU SUMP Conference in Groningen on 17 June. After this presentation, a consultation period is now open and local authorities, urban mobility stakeholders and automation experts are invited to make comments and suggestions. The final document will be published at the occasion of the CIVITAS Forum, in Graz, on 2-4 October 2019.
- Read the SUMP 2.0 Practitioner Briefing: Road vehicle automation in sustainable urban mobility planning
- Give your comments: https://qeurope.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Cc6lwbcNCpcPT7