The research project SPROUT (Sustainable Policy Response to Urban Mobility Transition) has started on 1 September. Therefore, a kick-off meeting took place between the 18 and 19 September in Zaragoza/Spain. SPROUT is a project funded by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 programme, it is lead by the Zaragoza Logistics Centre and has a duration of 36 months. The main role of the Wuppertal Institute will be to enhance cities' policy making capacity. The kick-off took place at the premises of the ZLC (Zaragoza Logistics Centre).
SPROUT provides a new city-led innovative and data driven policy response to address the impacts of the emerging mobility patterns (e.g. sharing mobility), digitally-enabled operating & business models, and transport users’ needs. Previously tested and implemented policy responses employing access restrictions, congestion charging or infrastructure provision, seem today unable to adequately address the changes underway in the urban mobility scene. Furthermore, any policy responses should take into account all stages of the policy lifecycle and should have an eye not only to the present but also to the future.
To achieve its goals, SPROUT will employ six city pilots with real-life policy challenges faced as a result of urban mobility transition in both passenger & freight, covering urban and peri-urban areas, different emerging mobility solutions, and context requirements. One of the main goals of the kick-off meeting was to understand in detail the urban mobility environment and challenges of each of the SPROUT partner cities as well as their expected benefits from the project.