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Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs)

Consortis significantly contributes to the development of resilient, efficient, and people-oriented urban environments through its specialized expertise in Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). Consortis’ multidisciplinary team combines extensive expertise in transport, environmental, and urban planning, ensuring that each SUMP is specifically adapted to local challenges while meeting broader European standards. Through the integration of traffic management, environmental responsibility, and public space design, Consortis guarantees that every plan satisfies both contextual needs and strategic objectives. SUMPs function not merely as technical documents, but as comprehensive frameworks guiding cities toward progressive sustainable development, addressing the interests of communities, the environment, and local economies.

The Challenge

Urban environments comprise intricate systems of functions and activities, with transportation serving as a fundamental element that shapes urban form and land utilization. As metropolitan areas expand, the demand for mobility increases accordingly. Although various initiatives are underway, adoption of environmentally friendly transportation modes remains limited, frequently due to inadequate strategic planning that results in fragmented solutions and slow progress toward achieving sustainable mobility. Core challenges include the following:

  • Traffic congestion resulting in delays, increased energy consumption, higher emissions of greenhouse gases, noise pollution, traffic accidents, and deterioration of the urban landscape, all of which adversely affect residential communities. 
  • Lower quality of life and social exclusion.
  • Urban mobility is responsible for roughly 40% of CO₂ emissions and 70% of total pollutant emissions. 
  • Despite ongoing efforts to promote alternative transport modes, private vehicles continue to dominate, accounting for 43% of global journeys and approximately 75% of mobility within Europe. 
  • Expansion of new transport infrastructure in city centers remains constrained due to limited available space.
  • Projections indicate that by 2050, two-thirds of the global population will reside in urban areas. 

Aware of these considerations, the European Union has consistently placed sustainable urban mobility at the forefront, promoting progress by issuing detailed guidelines, launching strategic projects, and providing financial support. These efforts are designed to enhance accessibility, ensure road safety, reduce environmental impacts, and improve overall efficiency within cities. 

The Solution

Effective SUMP development requires a systematic approach that integrates several key considerations to create sustainable urban transport systems:

  • Universal access to employment opportunities and essential services.
  • Safety and protection for all road users.
  • Reduced pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption.
  • Enhanced efficiency of passenger and freight transport.
  • Improved quality and appeal of urban spaces.
  • Consideration of all transport modes, parking management, and travel behavior analysis.

The SUMP development process typically includes four core phases:

  • Preparation and Analysis
  • Strategic Planning
  • Technical Proposals
  • Implementation and Monitoring

The success of SUMPs relies on robust engagement from both citizens and key stakeholders, effective collaboration among relevant institutions across sectors including transport, land use, environment, health, and social policy, strategic long-term planning, judicious selection of measures with broad support, and ongoing evaluation of results.

Benefits

SUMPs are essential tools for implementing policies related to accessibility, safety, environmental stewardship, and improved urban functionality. There are several benefits to their approach:

  • Supporting multimodal transport solutions and enhancing public transit, walking, and cycling infrastructure.
  • Facilitating comprehensive evaluation of traffic, urban planning, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions.
  • Optimizing usage of existing infrastructure and prioritizing upgrades for maximum impact.
  • Integrating advanced technologies and innovative methodologies in planning and evaluation processes.
  • Customizing solutions tailored to the unique needs and characteristics of each locality.

Applying a modern and comprehensive approach to traffic and urban planning, CONSORTIS has supported a significant number of municipalities in the development of SUMP, including the following: 

  • Municipality of Serres
  • Municipality of Lagadas
  • Municipality of Halkidona
  • Municipality of Komotini
  • Municipality of Kordelio – Evosmos 
  • Municipality of Kastoria
  • Municipality of Neapoli – Sykies 
  • Municipality of Kalamaria
  • Municipality of Thermaikos
  • Municipality of Nea Propontida

 

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