Context, needs and opportunities: Key challenges and opportunities for the transport system of the city of Rijeka are reviewed through the strengthening of transport connections, accessibility of public transport and mobility.

In relation to its connections, traffic development is to large degree determined by the development of infrastructure that is not within the competence of the city administration, but the City will encourage identified development directions through project and programme cooperation at national level and with relevant public operators. In the context of the Port of Rijeka, the main challenge lies in exploiting its significant investment potential and in the benefits for the economy of Rijeka and Croatia that the full exploitation of this potential can bring, in the context of railway and airport transport, the key challenges are in the fact that the existing infrastructure is insufficient and it needs to be constructed or renewed, in a lack of connections with other transport modes and the necessity to exploit the existing potentials. In this sense, it is necessary to strengthen the competitiveness of the Port of Rijeka in the global market through the integration of transport systems and the development of new terminals and identify opportunities for expanding port capacities.

In the context of public transport and mobility in the city, the identified challenges are related to insufficient adaptation of public transport to passengers, insufficient capacity (resources and infrastructure), lack of connections between different transport modes and lack of data on all traffic segments with the aim of optimising it. In order to overcome these challenges, it is necessary to create an intermodal, connected and passenger-friendly transport system, based on environmentally friendly technologies that will allow greater accuracy and a greater degree of flexibility in identifying and meeting the passengers’ needs.

The railway and the airport need to be significantly included in the traffic of the City of Rijeka and local railway connections and global air connections should be put in place. From the perspective of public transport and mobility, it is necessary to establish a complete, intermodal, environmentally friendly and passenger-friendly transport system that will unite all available and new planned transport modes within the city, which will encourage passengers to use public transport instead of cars. Solutions for smart traffic are based on sensors, artificial intelligence, as well as clean and environmentally friendly solutions, that form part of the horizontal development goal of Rijeka as a smart city.

Telecommunication infrastructure in Rijeka that provides broadband Internet access is well developed, and the coverage of the mobile wireless access signal is satisfactory, especially in the context of the fact that part of Rijeka, using dynamic spectrum sharing technology, has recently been covered by 5G network. Combining mobile and fixed access, Rijeka is almost 100% covered by a network that enables speeds of 30-100 Mbit / s, but these speeds cannot meet the needs of citizens and the economy of Rijeka in the next 10 years, but observing it individually, fixed broadband access is only partially covered by speeds of 100 Mbit / s or more. For the next ten-year period, it is necessary to plan the application of technologies that will enable interested citizens and all business entities in the entire city area speeds of 1 Gbit / s and more. In order for the City to achieve its goal of becoming a smart city hub for the entire region, it is necessary to focus strongly on the development of ICT infrastructure as a fundamental prerequisite for its connectivity in the new decade. The City also faces challenges in terms of the competence of developing infrastructure, but, using the positive experiences from the current decade, the City will continue with a proactive approach in cooperation with operators and direct its investments to maximum speed and internet coverage in Rijeka.

Topics covered in this area are:

1. Urban road traffic,
2. Urban public transport,
3. Cycling,
4. Pedestrians,
5. Alternative forms of transport,
6. Sustainability of transport,
7. Railway development,
8. Airport development,
9. Development of the seaport,
10. Integration of different modes of traffic
11. ICT infrastructure.

To implement this strategic goal, four specific goals have been designed to address the identified transport and connections challenges in Rijeka. The first specific objective relates to measures and activities aimed at strengthening transport connections through the improvement of existing and development of new transport infrastructure with emphasis on rail, air and sea transport, the second specific objective is aimed at developing public transport, the third at the urban transport system and strengthening mobility, while the fourth specific goal is aimed at improving ICT infrastructure and connections.

In relation to the horizontal goal Smart Rijeka in 2030, the intention of the City through specific goals 3.2., 3.3. and 3.4. is to develop smart solutions in the field of public transport and the urban transport system and mobility through the implementation of systems based on new technologies, with the aim of facilitating transport and strengthening the mobility of citizens, as well as through the development of ICT infrastructure in accordance with European standards.

Measures related to Strategic Goal 3: Connect Rijeka in 2030

Specific goal 3.1. Rijeka connected to the world and its surroundings

In 2030 we see Rijeka as the leading regional transport hub. Making use of its geographical and traffic position is a significant opportunity for Rijeka in the coming period and it can be used to achieve this goal. By all means, the mere existence of various specific forms of transport in Rijeka (presence of the port, railway and bus connections, nearby airport) by itself is not enough, by permanent investmenta in reconstruction and widening its capacities it is necessary to systematically improve its competitiveness. Given that the amount of daily migration between Rijeka and its surroundings is expected to increase, it is necessary to conduct analyses that will determine the directions in which public transport infrastructure and the number of lines can be improved, as well as the establishment of better supporting infrastructure (e.g. construction of parking lots at the busiest train or bus stations to facilitate the use of public transport). The profitability of these investments will be visible by an increase in the total number of passengers using specific forms of transport between Rijeka and the EU and Rijeka and the rest of Croatia by increasing the number of train and bus lines and ships and air lines between Rijeka and the EU and the rest of Croatia by 2030.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• number of train lines from Rijeka to the EU and the Republic of Croatia
• number of bus lines from Rijeka to the EU and the Republic of Croatia
• number of air lines from Rijeka to the EU and the Republic of Croatia

In order to ensure the achievement of the described goal, it is necessary to initiate the following measures, activities and projects:

• Promotion of the Rijeka traffic corridor in the country and abroad

Specific goal 3.2. Clean, efficient and accessible public transport

Clean, efficient and accessible public transport will be of great importance for Rijeka in the future. In order to achieve this specific goal, it is necessary to provide ecological and modern means of public transport, primarily buses, with the aim of encouraging citizens to use public transport. The use of smart traffic management technologies to improve traffic flows and improve the flexibility and accessibility of public transport will help achieve the set goals. In addition to investing in the renewal and modernisation of the existing fleet, proactive approach taken by the City when analysing existing traffic routes and creating new ones and optimal traffic routes for public transport lines will help implement the specific goal of Rijeka 2030 being a city with environmentally friendly and efficient public transport.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• number of public transport users

In order to ensure the achievement of the described goal, it is necessary to initiate the following measures, activities and projects:

• Equipping the public transport system
• Digitization of public urban transport systems

Specific goal 3.3. Development of the urban transport system and mobility

In 2030, Rijeka will reach the vision of a city with a highly developed transport system and an active and mobile population. Existing challenges of specific spatial and geomorphological constraints and high motorization of the population must be overcome by further investments in the existing system of public urban and suburban transport and investments in supporting infrastructure (parking lots, garages). In addition, the development of new infrastructure oriented to alternative transport forms and future trends (bike sharing system, charging stations for electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles) throughout the city will create a modern and efficient transport system with more users of public transport and alternative transport forms. Encouraging alternative forms of transport such as bike sharing systems or car sharing systems will have a positive effect on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also by reducing road traffic density. The positive effect of the introduction of alternative forms of transport will be reflected in a better quality of public urban transport. The collection of real-time data sets will enable a better analysis of the traffic situation and a better public transport service to citizens.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• total length of marked bicycle routes
• the share of the budget intended to improve traffic
• number of users of electric bicycles

In order to ensure the achievement of the described goal, it is necessary to initiate the following measures, activities and projects:

• Urban and traffic revitalization project of the city centre
• Development of innovative transport solutions

Specific goal 3.4. Development of ICT infrastructure

In order for Rijeka to develop economically and socially in general, and especially in its efforts to achieve the goal – a centre for the development and implementation of smart solutions in city management and encourage technologically advanced industry and services, a key prerequisite is quality ICT infrastructure.

In relation to the technological goals and the speed and type of fixed or mobile networks that Rijeka will use as the basic telecommunication infrastructure, ten-year planning is too long a period for setting specific goals. Namely, the speed of technological progress is extremely high and it is possible to expect that the current technological goal of 5G will replace 6G or higher. The city, within its capabilities, in cooperation with telecommunication operators, will have as its priority the development of fixed and mobile networks according to the highest standards, as they are a key prerequisite for the development of the city as a Smart City Hub, as well as economic and social development in general.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Percentage of coverage (household) of fixed broadband Internet access at 100 Mbit / s and more
• Percentage of use (household) of fixed broadband Internet access with a speed of 100 Mbit / s and more
• Percentage of coverage (locations of the City of Rijeka) of fixed broadband Internet access at a speed of 1 Gbit / s and more

In order to ensure the achievement of the described goal, it is necessary to initiate the following measures, activities and projects:

• Development of communication infrastructure