Turku’s Sustainable Urban Logistics Plan is under way
Updated SULP cycle (Source: European Platform on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, “Topic Guide: Sustainable Urban Logistics Planning”; Copyright: Rupprecht Consult)
Delivery robots in the streets of Turku (Copyright: Nelli Korpela)
This autumn, Turku started working on the Sustainable Urban Logistics Plan (SULP) in connection with the SCALE-UP Project's measure on carbon-neutral urban logistics. The plan will initially focus on the commercial city centre area and business and traffic nodes near the city centre as defined in the city Master Plan 2029.
Turku has previously made some experiments with logistics development in mind (e.g. as a part of the 6Aika programme – New solutions in city logistics, smart city solutions). However, the city has not had an actual future plan for logistics and freight transport. Future plans must also take into account new forms of transport, such as robots and drones.
Ongoing work for smoother urban logistics
As part of the plan, the current state of logistics and freight traffic in the Turku city centre area are being investigated and, at the same time, the development needs of distribution traffic are mapped. Next, the aim is to conduct surveys of transport companies and recipients in order to identify possible problem areas in distribution traffic and development needs in the city centre. The surveys are used to map information on what companies are ready to invest in at the moment, what are the implementation possibilities of the last mile now and in the future, and do companies already use light distribution or emission-free equipment?
The study will require extensive stakeholder work and involvement between transport companies, shop owners, retailers, local organisations, operators and the City's own units, such as traffic planning and maintenance. The results of the surveys and separate interviews will be compiled by the end of 2023.
The future is already here
Delivery robot in Turku (Copyright: Nelli Korpela)
The need for bringing forth the topic of logistics is obvious, even more so as new forms of last-mile distributers are becoming a part of the cityscape. As an example, worth mentioning are the food robots or Starship delivery robots, that have been delivering grocery bags from stores to consumers in several locations around town since June 2023.
Turku reached 200,000 inhabitants this year. With urbanisation, the population will grow in the future and at the same time distribution traffic will increase. Large urban development projects are planned for the city in the coming years, including housing and commercial spaces. These include, for example, the Port of Turku and Ferry Terminal and the Science Park area in Kupittaa. In addition, a new Travel Centre is being planned next to Turku city centre, combining train and bus stations, where the importance of functional urban logistics will be further emphasised.
The City of Turku aims to be carbon neutral by 2029, so strict emission reduction targets require measures from all transport sectors. Developing last-mile distribution in a more efficient, safer and emission-free direction is an important part of the development of urban transport and business life.
Author: Eelin Hoffström-Cagiran, Nelli Korpela (City of Turku)