The SIPTRAM project aimed to encourage local and regional authorities across Europe to improve the environmental and social standards in urban public transport through the competitive tendering process.
The SIPTRAM project aimed to encourage local and regional authorities across Europe to improve the environmental and social standards in urban public transport through the competitive tendering process.
Public transport is one of the most significant sectors to consider in creating a sustainable urban environment. Urban transport systems are subjected to liberalisation, which is perceived partially as a threat, and partially as a chance to make systematic improvements and to develop high environmental and social standards. The SIPTRAM project aimed to promote competitive tendering in public urban transport as a chance rather than a threat or an obligation. However, the precondition for successful improvement is strong management by local politicians and developing and maintaining a fruitful dialogue between the stakeholders concerned. This project, developed and carried out by the ICLEI European Secretariat, Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) and the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) was a valuable step in the development of local public transport policies and contributed to the improvement of the European legislation on this issue. The project had three main objectives: 1. Trigger exchange on good practices between local politicians as well as between local technical experts involved in public transport. 2. Explore how a dialogue between procurers, suppliers, manufacturers and regulators can lead to a mutual increase both in environmental and social standards as well as in the cost-effectiveness and quality of public urban transport. 3. Enhance commitment of local authorities and other actors to high quality and sustainable public transport, therefore strengthening political objectives in the course of public transport tendering.