Urban mobility projects supported by the Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF)

The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) is part of the European Green Deal Investment Plan. The JTM consists of three pillars to ensure a transition to a climate-neutral economy, one of which is the Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF).

The PSLF is an instrument designed to help regions mitigate the social and economic impacts of the transition by supporting communities reliant on carbon-intensive industries. It also funds projects that promote social, economic, and environmental development. Funding under this mechanism is available to all Member States.

Projects submitted in response to calls for proposals are selected for funding by the European Commission (EC). Several urban mobility projects across Member States have received support from the PSLF. Each of these projects plays an important role in contributing to sustainable mobility within the Member State. 

Below we highlight the relevant projects funded in France, the Czech Republic and Poland between 2023 and 2024:

France 

• Extension of the tramway line in Marseille: This project received a €15 million grant to extend the North-South tramway line of Marseille by 6.2 km; construct storage, maintenance site and technical buildings for rolling stock and; carry out landscape works, as part of Métropole d’Aix-Marseille-Provence broader investment programme for the transport sector. It aims to enhance performance, quality and diversity of public transport in Marseille, offering an alternative to private cars, and promoting more sustainable urban mobility.
• Greening transport infrastructure in Lille: The Green Mobility (GREENMO) project benefits from a €31.5 million grant to modernise the tram network through the replacement of 30 trams; roll out 42 hydrogen-powered buses; improve platforms, depots and other related transport facilities and; develop cycling infrastructure to improve safety for cyclists. It is expected that around 1.2 million people of the Lille Metropolitan area will benefit from a more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly public transport service, while transforming the area into a bicycle-friendly city.
• Green mobility in Nantes: The Sustainable Mobility Infrastructures for Low Emissions and qualitative Service (SMILES) project supported by a €30 million grant aims to improve Nantes Métropole transport infrastructure by upgrading and renovating 3 tram lines; renewing the tram fleet via the purchase and entry into service of 46 new tram vehicles; constructing a technical and operational centre, as well as multimodal relay/exchange hub (park & ride facility) and; developing 38 km of cycling paths. The goal is to improve performance and quality of the tram network, develop inter-modality, contribute to quality and diversity of public transport, facilitate accessibility in Nantes, as well as encourage soft mobility and behavioural changes.

The Czech Republic

• Modernisation of railway infrastructure in Usti nad Labem: The 3UnLReg Green project benefits from a €1.62 million grant, for the modernisation of railway infrastructure in the Usti nad Labem region in Czechia. The project aims to reconstruct specific sections of the railway infrastructure in the municipalities of Litoměřice, Libochovany, Ústí nad Labem and Teplice. These works include the reconstruction of a railway line in Litoměřice, including construction of noise barriers and a fly-over in Libochovany; the reconstruction of a railway bridge in Ústí nad Labem and; the reconstruction of a railway bridge in Teplice. The project will help ensure operability of crucial railway lines for daily commuting in the Ústí nad Labem region and also contribute to boosting tourism and travel in urban heritage zones and protected areas such as Teplice, Litoměřice, CHKO České středohoří, and the UNESCO-protected Krušnohoří mining region. It is expected to enhance quality and safety of both passenger and freight railway transport while reducing noise pollution caused by railway transport. 
• Renovation of the historical part of Podmokly (stage D): The city of Děčín will receive a grant to revitalise the historical Podmokly neighbourhood. This includes reconstructing roads and pavements to promote active mobility in the city centre.          
• Usti nad Labem Public Transportation: The city of Usti nad Labem will receive a EUR 0.4 million grant for the purchase and installation of LED street lighting. The funds will also support the construction of a sustainable building for trolleybus drivers, aiming to improve energy efficiency in the public transport provider's operations.

Poland

• Dabrowa Gornicza Sustainable Development: This project will support investment in Dąbrowa Górnicza by improving public municipal infrastructure and increasing energy efficiency in public buildings.

To be eligible for PSLF funding, applicants must be legal entities (public bodies or private entities entrusted with a public service mission) established in an EU Member State. Projects may cover a wide range of sustainability topics, but proposals must include indicators demonstrating a measurable impact on social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Several application deadlines are available, with the next one on 16 January 2025 at 17:00 CET. You can find more information here.

Author: Francesca Bracci

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