Mobility is not a cost, but an investment in the future of cities

When a city invests in trams or car transport, what are the main costs – apart from the purchase of vehicles?

First of all, it’s the whole system. You can’t start only with the purchase of vehicles – it is always part of a broader city development process. Such an investment requires spatial planning, social arrangements and time. The infrastructure needs to be prepared, residents’ approval must be obtained and the project should be incorporated into the existing urban fabric. This means a long implementation process.

Apart from the vehicles themselves, the key costs are infrastructure costs – tracks, roads, signals, stops, stations and technical facilities. In addition, there is the entire operating system that enables transport to function: transport organization, traffic management and passenger service. As a result, we are talking about very complex and expensive investments that go far beyond the mere purchase of vehicles.

From your experience, how do cities decide that such expensive investments make economic sense?

Public transport has one specific feature – it is an investment with a very long horizon. We are talking about systems that function for up to 100 years, while the vehicles themselves – such as trams – have a life cycle of 30-40 years.

And here a fundamental problem arises: decisions are made by politicians whose term of office is 4, 5 or a maximum of 8 years. Therefore, they must make decisions about investments, the effects of which will only be fully visible for subsequent generations. This makes the decision-making process very difficult. It requires courage and vision – the willingness to take responsibility for a long-term change in the way the city and its mobility system operates.

Should we think about what the city will look like in 50 years?

Yes, exactly. It’s about changing the entire system and thinking realistically in the next 10-20 years about what the needs of the city and its inhabitants will be.

And if it doesn’t work out – will the cost be high?

The cost will be high. However, especially in the context of today’s accessibility needs and climate goals, it is difficult to talk about an alternative. Public transport in cities simply needs to develop.

Can you give an example of how public transport can increase property values?

From my experience, I have worked, among others, at Siemens and Alstom – this can be seen very clearly in the example of France. There, tram systems are also popular in smaller towns. Over time, it was noticed that the introduction of public transport increases the value of real estate in its surroundings – in some cases even by 20-40%.

People who were initially against such investments often noticed their positive effect years later. Entire districts and streets became more attractive, better connected and therefore more valuable.

So can we say that investing in public transport is beneficial for everyone, not only for the people who directly use it?

Yes, definitely yes.

From your perspective, what makes integrated transport work in practice – that is, that bicycles, trams, roads and cars form a coherent system for the passenger?

What is crucial today is that we have appropriate rules and digital systems that allow us to combine different means of transport into one coherent ecosystem. It’s about integrating cars, public transport, railways, trams and regional systems that bring people to and from cities. I used this approach earlier, for example in Hamburg – for example, by moving intermodally, combining different means of transport in one trip, also using mobile applications.

Today, the goal is to fully integrate these systems: highways, metro, trams and regional railways. This is the direction cities should go. There is also more and more talk about the concept of a “15-minute city”, in which all the basic needs of residents are available in a short time and without the need for long journeys.

What does the “15-minute city” concept actually mean and how can it be implemented in practice?

The 15-minute city concept, which is also talked about a lot here in Katowice, assumes that residents should have access to all the basic functions of the city within a short time. In the past, this primarily meant access to a store, doctor or pharmacy in close proximity. Today, with the development of mobility and public transport, it is about something broader – that residents are not cut off from key services and can quickly reach hospitals, cultural centers and sports facilities.

The implementation of this assumption requires, first of all, integrated city and transport planning. All means of communication are key here – highways, metro, trams and regional railways – which must be interconnected and digitized.

The availability of technology for users is also an important element. This applies not only to younger generations, but also to older residents who should be able to easily plan their trips, for example using a smartphone. However, achieving this model requires large investments and cooperation of many entities – highway, urban and regional transport operators. Today, they often operate separately, which makes full system integration difficult.

A change of mentality is needed in Poland – today many people treat a car as the only real means of transport. How can this be changed and encourage people to use public transport more often?

I can give the example of the city of Tampere. In 2016, it was decided to build a tram system there. Tampere is a city with a relatively simple urban structure, reminiscent of some American cities. Despite this, a decision was made to implement a new transport system.

Last year, the system served approximately 50 million passengers. However, the key was not only the creation of infrastructure, but also its integration into the life of the city. Trams and the space around them were included in cultural life – artistic elements and creative activities appeared at the stations and in their surroundings. Thanks to this, public transport has become more than just a means of getting around. As a result, we managed to significantly increase the interest of passengers and encourage residents to use the new system.

If you could give one message to European decision-makers regarding investment in mobility, what would it be?

Today we are at a point where mobility is one of the key topics – both in the context of security and climate goals. Financial resources are available, but the most important thing is to use them intelligently and strategically. Just look at the example of Paris. Not long ago, few people expected that it would become a city so focused on greenery and limiting car traffic.

Of course, such changes affect the habits of residents and the way public space functions. They are not easy and require social acceptance. But the key is that mobility investments make long-term sense – regardless of short-term costs or debates. Therefore, it is worth investing in them consistently. Over time, they will benefit future generations.