New Urban Mobility Indicator fiches released to support SUMP implementation

One of the crucial objectives of the TEN-T Regulation is to further integrate urban nodes into the TEN-T network. On 24 April 2024, the European Parliament voted to update the guidelines so that all 431 urban nodes along the TEN-T network will have to adopt and monitor Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) by 2027, and this was officially adopted in June 2024. The Regulation text emphasises that "the local connectivity within urban nodes should be addressed by the competent local, regional, or national authorities, in particular through relevant measures of their sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs)."

In addition to monitoring SUMPs for each urban node, Member States should also ensure the collection of urban mobility indicators (UMI) per urban node in the fields of sustainability, safety and accessibility.

On behalf of the European Commission, in 2023 a group experts began work on the simplification of indicators for seven areas selected, to support them in preparing suitable and easy-to-use indicators that will help measure progress in transforming urban mobility to become more sustainable and attractive across all urban nodes within the TEN-T Network.

UMI indicator fiches were prepared for seven topic areas: 

1. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions 
2. Congestion
3. Accidents and injuries
4. Modal share
5. Access to mobility services
6. Air pollution
7. Noise pollution 

Each fiche included information on: proposed input, output and result indicators; data requirements for urban nodes; indicator calculation methods; indicator logic; and definitions.

To analyse existing and planned urban mobility data collection practices and methods, the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission and the SUMP sub-group of the Expert Group on UGUM launched a survey. This survey was addressed to the 431 cities listed as urban nodes. It aimed to gain a better understanding of the collection methods and use of urban mobility data at the city level.

Following the analysis of the 215 responses to the urban mobility data and indicators survey, each indicator fiche was revised. These revisions reflect the survey results on data availability and aim to reduce the data collection and reporting burden for cities. Information for each data requirement was added based on the survey responses and other relevant datasets and sources.

The final list of indicators and their methodology will be set out in an Implementing Act, to be adopted within one year of the revised TEN-T Regulation entering into force.

More about urban mobility indicators and the UMI fiches is available here.

Author: Marko Stančec 

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.