START - Short Term Actions to Reorganize Transport of goods |
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Acknowledging that the current system of goods distribution is rich in emissions and not necessarily energy efficient, the five cities of START has implemented a mixture of complementary long-term planning actions, for the reduction of the need of transport, with short term initiatives, such as access restrictions, consolidation centres and incentives. The approach of the project is based on the close collaboration between city governments, transport companies and local businesses formalised in local freight networks, which have been established in each START city. The project START has been running since 2006 and is in January 2009 coming to an end. Three years of cooperation and development of innovative measures around urban distribution of goods will be summarised in the Final Conference which will be held in Goteborg between the 11th -12th of December. The cities Bristol, Goteborg, Ljubljana, Ravenna and Riga are together with local partners introducing and developing measures that will benefit both businesses and citizens by making goods distribution more energy efficient and hence reducing the related air pollution. The START approach was based on close collaboration between the city government, transport companies and local businesses formalised in local freight networks, which will be established in every partner city. |
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Added value for SMEs An important conclusion from the START project was also that the creation and constant development of cooperation and dialogue with the private stakeholders is essential. The cities were starting up the networks on different levels, some have already established collaboration with the freight industry while others are starting from scratch. In Bristol and Goteborg the formation of the networks was build on the networks formed as part of the CIVITAS projects and Ravenna - the ‘Logistics Concertation Table’ in Ravenna. The City of Riga and Ljubljana had started the discussions with stakeholders regarding co-operation for freight and logistic solutions. |
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Download the project description in PDF. |
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More information: http://www.start-project.org/ |
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