Utrecht: park and ride optimisation
The Challenge
Utrecht, a city in the Netherlands, aims to optimise its Park and Ride system so more commuters and visitors use it.
- User feedback: increased knowledge about the reasons citizens use or do not use P&R.
- Testing of hardware and/or software: enhanced parking validation, route planning support, easy-to-use mobile app, improved signage, and/or other tangible measures to make intended use P&R more accessible and appealing such that Utrecht can implement the successful measures on a wider scale.
- Optimised P&R connectivity: improved connectivity of P&R facilities and systems to manage existing P&R sites.
- Roadmap for scaling: a plan on how we can scale the solution to other P&Rs, what are the necessary steps.
Who can apply?
The call is open to startups and SMEs. As a mono-beneficiary scheme, it is aimed at single legal entities and all proposals must therefore be submitted by a single entity. Consortia are not permitted.
Additionally:
They must be registered as legal entities in either an EU member state or a third country associated with Horizon Europe, including the United Kingdom.
To ensure a balanced project portfolio, SMEs selected for the EIT Urban Mobility 2024 RAPTOR Call and the previous SME Market Expansion 2024 open call are not eligible to apply for this call.
Background
The city of Utrecht has implemented three Park & Ride areas on the edge of the city, which are designed to allow city visitors to park their car and continue their journey to the city centre by public transport or shared mobility.
Currently, only approximately 30% of the users use the P&R as intended: parking their car and taking public transport to the city centre. The large majority of users parks their car and then walks to nearby offices.
As part of the city’s Mobility Plan 2040 (established in 2021), the number of on-street car parking spaces is aimed to reduce by 0.5% to 1% per year, freeing up inner city space and promoting sustainable urban mobility. As a counter balance, the city isa hoping to increase occupancy of the existing P&R facilities by improving accessibility for city visitors.