Rome, 14 June 2017
Infrastructure that is useful and shared, inter-mobility, full exploitation of assets and sustainable development. These are the issues that have been dealt with today during the "Connecting Italy. Strategies and results of a new season of mobility” convention, held in the Great Hall of Rome's Sapienza University.
With companies and unions amongst those present, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Graziano Delrio took stock of the policies and decisions which support the economic growth of the country, and which also involves the improvement of the national infrastructure system and its connections with Europe and the Mediterranean.
The urgency of focusing common effort on public works which are useful in the development of the country and of logistical areas has been shared for some time. Nowadays programming and planning take on great importance in identifying the real needs of people, in terms of mobility, safety and sustainability of the resources that should be ascribed to this area. A move can be seen from a time of “great works” to that of “useful works”, big and small, to connect Italy and make the central role of interconnection to and from Europe emerge.
"Connecting Italy" is, indeed, the paradigm with which a new era of mobility in our country has been implemented at MIT, which takes shape in strategic choices and in a new system of rules. During the meeting there were presentations on good practices, guidelines and specific methodologies which are useful in creating efficient infrastructure, fully sustainable mobility and complete accessibility to international markets.
Also speaking at the meeting was the CEO of the FS Italiane Group, Renato Mazzoncini, who stressed that “FS Italiane is instrumental in activating government rail transport policy. There is complete agreement with the government, and especially with Infrastructure and Transport Minister Graziano Delrio, that efforts should be concentrated on local public transport”. Mazzoncini also underlined how, thanks to the certainty of the resources offered by the current government, the group can programme large investments.
“What is new is that the focus is once again on local public transport. That doesn't mean that large infrastructure is less important", he added, "but local public transport had fallen back. The fit between Italian Railway's industrial plan with government strategy will give impetus to this strategy. The certainty of the availability of resources gives us the chance to plan in the long term. And the results can be seen".
"RFI,” explained Mazzoncini, “is the implementing body for the railway infrastructure investment plan. The certainty that resources will be available has meant that we can create a 57 billion euro plan, and move the focus onto regional lines with the basis of a shared strategy".
“In 2016 we invested 4.2 billion and for the next few years we are thinking of getting to five to six billion", he concluded.
The MIT approach is ongoing and will have in the G7 Transport meeting in Cagliari on 21st and 22nd June an international launch pad for its three key themes: economic, environmental and social sustainability.