City Board Utrecht approves ambitious Action Plan for Sustainable Freight Traffic
To mark the end of 2010 in a sustainable spirit, the City Board of Utrecht approved an ambitious 23 million Euro Action Plan 2010-2015 for Freight Traffic. The plan is a good example of Utrecht's recent leadership role on freight issues. Utrecht is keen to further expand in this area in the coming years, both in the Netherlands and in Europe.
The Plan's mission is to “bundle, innovate and optimise” freight traffic in Utrecht and make it greener. The freight transport Work Package is a large part of Utrecht’s contribution to the CIVITAS MIMOSA project. With this document, the City Council sets the framework for structural embedding of the CIVITAS results in its freight policies for the coming years. The Action Plan includes freight traffic projects aimed at improved accessibility, better living conditions and air quality, decrease of the demand in energy, better road safety and a better economic climate. All stakeholders and modes of freight transport are represented: water, road and rail, to shops and restaurants, companies and consumers, from trash collection to goods supply.The business community has reacted enthusiastically to the Action Plan. Their response also reflects the ongoing good cooperation between city, shopkeepers and transporters, which has made projects like the beerboat and Cargohopper so successful. The City of Utrecht continues to consult relevant companies and stakeholders on all CIVITAS projects.
Author: Renske Martijnse
