Category: News

The system of car parks P + R “Park and ride” in the Ljubljana region covers 27 parking lots P + R, four of which already operate in Ljubljana (Dolgi most, Stožice, Studenec and Ježica).
For each new crossing point, the company OMEGA Consult has developed a study, based on which municipalities can compete for EU funds and gain building licenses. The final goal of the project is the regulation of an integrated parking system P + R. This will keep a substantial amount of motor traffic on the outskirts of the city, meanwhile users will switch to bus, rail traffic or non-motorized traffic (bikes, paths on foot). This will increase the traffic flow in the region, reduce the burden on the environment and improve the quality of life.

And the financial investment? For 23 new parking lots (together with those which have already received funding from the previous financial perspective) it is estimated to be 48 million euros, from which 33 million would be obtained from European funds, while the rest would be funded by the municipalities. For the project to be eligible for EU co-financing, its net benefits for the society must be positive. With economic analysis and taking into account the assessment of external costs (air pollution, climate change and noise), we calculated that the project has a positive net worth of over two million euros.

In this case, the risk analysis showed a five percent probability that the economic net worth will be negative. Critical variables are a change in investment costs and a change in revenue. We also mention the four “bottlenecks” of the project: a longer construction period due to the long duration of obtaining licenses, the research for financial resources (municipal budgets do not allow 100% funding, therefore, it is necessary to obtain EU funds or other sources), occupancy of parking lots (lower occupancy means additional financial burdens for municipalities) and uncertainty about the future system management and the role of each project participants.

At OMEGA consult we studied and analyzed three management models, for the best it turned out to be a joint public company (we also examined the possibility that each municipality manages its P + R and a joint private company). Prior to the construction of P + R centers, the management model and operator of the P + R centers, should have been selected and designated.

For the Ministry of Infrastructure, which is executing the project of the Integrated Public Passenger Transport, we have developed The Portal of the Integrated Public Passenger Transport (the IPPT portal). This portal provides to passengers the information and data on all interurban regular bus and train transport in Slovenia in one place.

The Portal of the Integrated Public Passenger Transport implements the Google Transit system, for which OMEGA consult has produced and prepared the data. The users of the IPPT portal can therefore plan their routes with public transport also to destinations in other countries, which are in the Google Transit.

Route planning with the Slovenian public passenger transport is also enabled on the website Google Maps.

Both portals, the IPPT and Google, are based on two information tools: the Uniform Infrastructure Database (tool EDaljinar) and the National Timetable, which were developed in OMEGA consult. In these two tools we maintain the data and ensure that it is up to date for the IPPT portal as well as for the Google.

We attended the 12th Slovenian Congress on Roads and Transportation, which took place on 22nd and 23rd of April 2015 in Portorož.

At the congress we presented 3 topics, addressing:

• Financing the conservation and development of transport infrastructure

There are two basic issues. First, the new efficient motorway system is not yet fully completed, therefore new investments are planned. However, current tolls revenue is not sufficient to cover the regular maintenance costs and liabilities for loan repayments. Therefore, DARS has to either provide additional resources or reschedule existing debts. In both cases it is expected for all DARS liabilities to be covered by tolls on long-term.

On the other hand, main and regional roads (6.000 km) are facing rapid deterioration due

to insufficient regular investments in road maintenance and reconstruction, which has caused so -called internal debt to this infrastructure. It is estimated that in the next few years around 1.700 mio EUR will be needed to normalize our main and regional roads state. Additionally, it is necessary to provide funds for regular maintenance, basic source being the annual fee on the use of motor vehicles. However, this fee, even if fully utilized for main and regional roads, is not expected to be sufficient to ensure normal road condition.

• Methodology and model for determining the route of transport of dangerous goods on roads

Transport accidents could affect the population either directly, as road corridors run through densely populated areas, or indirectly by polluting areas with drinking water sources or other areas with fragile ecosystems. Addressing the risks associated by transport of hazardous substances requires the analysis of basic elements of risk and related concepts such as danger, danger management, risk mitigation and risk management.

• Dangerous spots on the National Road Network

For locations with a high accident rate the term »black spots« was used in the past. In the last years typical »black spots« have nearly disappeared from the Slovenian road network, and only a few of them exist today. Therefore for these locations the new term spots with a high accident rate is used nowadays. Spots with a high accident rate have been determined according to a methodology that enables identifying dangerous parts of road sections and intersections, e.g. the road parts with an accident rate higher than the average one when comparing them to other similar road parts in a three year time period. The methodology has over the years been repeatedly updated and upgraded.

 

In 2017, the company OMEGA consult, has successfully developed and completed a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan of the Municipality of Šempeter – Vrtojba. The main purpose and goal of this project is to overcome challenges in transport with equal treatment of all traffic participants (cyclists, pedestrians, drivers).

As the Municipality of Šempeter-Vrtojba is very small in size, but busy and densely populated, we have developed and integrated a new transport strategy which will redirect traffic flows so that they will be for inhabitants (vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists) less disturbing and much more safe and functional.

Due to the geographical characteristics and attractive environment, the Municipality of Šempeter-Vrtojba has great potential and opportunity for the development of daily hiking and cycling. In addition to this, there is also a great opportunity to utilize better the existing public passenger transport offer by upgrading it.

 

 

 

 

Apart from creating the conditions for integrated planning, regulation and traffic management, the basic strategic challenge is to create such an integrated transport arrangement that will reduce the need for the use of motor vehicles and, consequently, solve parking issues. Given that the Mobility plan will enable economic, social and economic development and better co-existence of companies and citizens, the public played a major role in it, as it was actively involved in the entire process of preparing the Strategy, through interviews, workshops and public debates.

The project did not only foresee a better utilized transport infrastructure, but also – through concrete proposals – predicted a better quality of life, by improving mobility and public access to work. Thus, Municipality’s improved public image would also enhance social networking.