The Mobility Alliance, a partnership with 25 parties including the ANWB, NS and Fietsersbond, has come up with a plan for the future. The role of the car is becoming more flexible in this and different modes of transport must be more compatible.
The number of inhabitants in the Netherlands will grow by more than 1.5 million up to 2040 and one million homes must be added in the short term. In the interests of the country, the main mobility players have therefore joined forces. “How will the Netherlands live, work, socialize and recreate in 2040?”, Says Steven van Eijck, chairman of the RAI Association. AD. “We asked ourselves that question. We then reason back. What is needed now, which transport flows will that initiate?” It leads to an extensive package of wishes (see list at the bottom of this article) to get from A to B faster, cleaner and safer. Mobility Alliance. It is all worked out in one concept that the next government can include in the coalition agreement.
Obviously there are wishes for more lanes or extra track, such as finally a high-speed line with Germany. It is striking, however, that the Mobility Alliance mainly looks at how things can be done smarter. Think of agreements with employers and educational institutions about more flexible working and lecture times. This should prevent traffic jams and overcrowded trains as much as possible. An important change advocated is the increased combination of modes of transport. So-called ‘traffic hubs’ can play a role in this, in and outside cities, where travelers can switch modes of transport. “You go to such a hub by bicycle, bus, tram or metro and switch to a shared car or train,” says Marjan Rintel, president of the Dutch Railways. can link to the end.
According to the Mobility Alliance, anyone who wants to use a car will have to ‘pay according to use’ in the future. Also known colloquially as kilometer charge. “Our system with addition, motor vehicle and other taxes is bankrupt,” says Van Eijck. “We have to pay for use, which is completely normal in public transport. That way you can compare the costs much more fairly. ” ANWB, NS and RAI also argue for tackling overdue maintenance on the countless bridges, such as the Merwede Bridge previously. Road safety also requires constant attention, because, it is said: “The number of road fatalities remains high and the number of serious injuries (21,400 in 2019, ed.) Is increasingly dramatic.”
Now it is up to the next cabinet to include the Mobility Plan – or parts of it – in the coalition agreement. Van Eijck: “The Netherlands is now an attractive country to live in and to establish yourself as a company. Everything is easily accessible. However, if we do nothing, it will be different in ten to twenty years. the next cabinet! ”
The seven main points
1. A less busy rush hour due to more flexible working and school hours
If universities and universities of applied sciences spread their education better and employees are allowed to go to work later, rush hour will slow down. The number of traffic jams is decreasing, while transporters have to use fewer (long) trains and buses.
2. More public transport and a better cycling infrastructure
In this way, inner cities can become less car-free and the air quality improves. People can also live more in the region thanks to good public transport connections.
Invest in the road networkBottlenecks must be tackled: there must be a connection between the A8 and A9 in North Holland, more capacity for the A58 between Breda and Tilburg and a better urban connection of the A10 North in Amsterdam.
4. Hubs for passenger and freight transportWith hubs in city centers or beyond, travelers can easily switch modes of transport and travel more comfortably.
5. More money and attention to road safetyWithout additional investments and measures, the goal of zero road deaths by 2050 is impossible in advance.
6. Kilometer chargeCar costs should be distributed more fairly by paying per kilometer driven. This offers travelers more freedom of choice to choose the best means of transport.
7. Smart transport appsIn the future, everyone should be able to plan a trip with multiple means of transport (public transport, shared car, bicycle) via an app.