With the start of the sixth semester of the LAST MILE project, the Regional Office for Spatial Planning of Westpomeranian Voivodeship in Szczecin (RBGPWZ) took the next steps to implement the regional Action Plan.
The priority action relating to the improvement of the policy instrument is the development of a new analytic method of spatial transport accessibility. Due to the complexity of the issue RBGPWZ decided to consult experts in this regard. The purpose of this consultations is to select the appropriate indicators and assumptions which should be considered in order to increase the functionality of the method. The method should help to diagnose the differences in accessibility and to identify areas of transport exclusion, as well as to identify the necessary measures to improve the accessibility of public transport services for the inhabitants.
At the same time, work is also being carried out to collect the necessary data for the development of the method and the possibility of extending the scope of application of the method to better suit the current challenges of public transport organization and planning tasks. One of the first findings is that the method should be based on the GTFS dynamic data format (General Transit Feed Specification), which will allow its universal application.
Despite the long process of amending the Public Transport Act, the final version of the Act has still not been passed, which is why RBGPWZ decided to submit an official petition to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland concerning the change of legal regulations in connection with the provision of public transport services. The petition proposes the introduction of dedicated provisions to the Act, relating to flexible transport systems, which will allow for the functioning of irregular systems within the framework of public transport.
At the same time, activities related to the promotion of FTS-related issues among decision-makers directly involved in the legislative process (experts of the ministerial team responsible for the preparation of laws or amendments to laws) are also carried out. Support for legislative changes to FTS systems is also provided through other projects and initiatives in which the Westpomeranian Voivodeship is involved (e.g. the Catching-Up Regions project currently being implemented with the World Bank and the European Commission).
After the final local government elections, cooperation with newly elected representatives of the coastal municipalities of Międzyzdroje, Kamień Pomorski, Wolin and Dziwnów was re-established and RBGPWZ is continuing activities related to the implementation of the flexible transport Seaside Bus system and the appointment of a Transport Coordinator. The working meeting was organized with the representatives of all municipalities, during which the current status of the project was presented, and the further direction of works were defined.
