Good practice:

Innovative tools in the calls for proposals for sustainable transport development

The calls for sustainable transport development projects specify eligible compulsory activities. Comprehensive Cycling Traffic Network Plan (CCTNP) has to be prepared in the first project period. This assesses the cycling traffic situation in the towns and their surroundings regarding bike traffic and barriers to cycling, suggest improvements to cycling conditions. All project activities must be specified and justified in it.
Guidance documents for Cycling Traffic Network Plan:
(1) Template for preparing the plan (annex to the calls); (2) Methodology background documents: (a) Handbook on cycling-inclusive planning/promotion (b) SUMP planning guide (EC); (3) Link to a good practice model-CCTNP provided as reference in the call text; (4) Link to national database on cycling traffic flows; (5) Link to the Book of standards for bicycle storage facilities
Local cyclists’ associations must be consulted during planning. Plans are approved by an independent Professional Committee managed by the ministry responsible for cycling coordination. Other members of this committee are: (1) TSDOP Managing Authority and Intermediary Body; (2) Road management authority if relevant; (4) Independent experts, cycling NGOs
The actual physical plans are prepared after finalizing the CCTNP, and are also approved by the Professional Committee. It means that a project development process is part of the policy instrument and is contributing to a more efficient and effective usage of the EU funds.

Territorial and Settlement Dev. OP (TSDOP) Annual Dev. Framework ensures nearly 400 million EUR for sustainable transport development. 4 call for proposals were published (2 for NUTS3 counties: TSDOP-3.1.1-15, TSDOP-3.1.1-16; and 2 for towns with county rights: TSDOP-6.4.1-15,TSDOP-6.4.1-16).

All financed projects must contribute to the relevant indicators specified in the 4 calls. The following numbers represent the target value commitments of projects in the less developed Hungarian regions:
Length of constructed cycling facilities (km): 19736
Number of established cycling friendly settlements or parts of settlements (pcs): 379
Number of settlements that implemented transport safety development actions (pcs): 208
Number of established new zones with traffic dampening (pcs): 183

Local governments and county-level organisations vary greatly in both their level of competence and capacities. Awareness has to be raised at the applicant side on best available technical solutions.The Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic should be presented to applicants in a more understandable way.

Experiences of previous two EU funding periods have shown the necessity to develop and use these policy instrument tools, since technical solutions, network coherence and sustainability were diverse and often of poor quality in cycling projects funded.
The MA launched 4 TSDOP calls in 2 recurring rounds, in 2015 and then in 2016. MA has reviewed the processes of the first calls and decided to stick to the same procedures in each call. Nearly 400 projects were granted with 120 billion HUF (363 million EUR) support.
The Committee reviewed all cycling related projects in TSDOP calls, developed them with funding conditions formulated to its approval decisions. These covered technical challenges, traffic flow/network organisation issues and soft measures promoting changing traffic behaviours. The adoption of a similar system could help thereby MAs/IBs and applicant local and regional authorities to prepare, fund and implement cycling projects with higher CO2 reduction impact.