The consortium consisting of Sweco, The New Drive, APPM, Goudappel-Coffeng, Rebel Group and Billie Bonkers will draw up the 2030 Route Plan for Antwerp’s transport region. Sweco is part of the core team providing the process guidance and setting out the strategic vision.
Sweco is also taking the leading role in the content development of the layered mobility network.
After a pilot project in Aalst, Mechelen and the Westhoek, the Flemish government proposes that Flanders is divided into 15 transport regions, with local authorities being able to co-decide on public transport policy on their territory. The Antwerp transport region has its own dynamics and complexity for the purpose of reconciling mobility and quality of life. The starting point for this is the Toekomstverbond (Future Alliance), concluded between Flanders, the City of Antwerp and a number of civil associations. In drawing up the 2030 Route Plan and mobility vision for Antwerp’s transport region & port, the modal shift to 50/50 is going to be implemented: 50% car traffic and 50% alternative modes of transport. This shift is necessary in order to safeguard the accessibility and viability of the region in the longer term.
Basic accessibility
On December 18, 2015, the Flemish government approved the draft memorandum: “With basic accessibility to an efficient and attractive transport model in Flanders that optimally meets the global and local transport demand”. Basic accessibility means being able to achieve important social functions on the basis of a demand-oriented system and with optimum use of resources. The transport model is structured hierarchically with this and is composed of the train network, the core network, additional networks and customized transport, each of which has its role within the hierarchy, these being optimally attuned to each other.
Mobility Network
The offer of local public transport no longer stands alone but forms part of the global mobility network. Pre- and post-routes with (shared) bikes, (shared) cars and other modes of transport are facilitated from the concept of combined mobility. Attuning to the specific demand is developed within the transport regions, consisting of several municipalities. This is on the basis of real and potential transport flows. 15 transport regions have been defined for Flanders: Bruges, Kortrijk, Ostend, Roeselare and Westhoek in West Flanders; Aalst, Ghent, Sint-Niklaas and Flemish Ardennes in East Flanders; Antwerp, Mechelen and Kempen in the province of Antwerp; Leuven and Brussels in Flemish Brabant; and Limburg as one big transport region.
