Fellow Cities
Netwerkstad-Twente (The Netherlands)
Twente, located in the eastern part of the Netherlands, closely collaborates with three neighboring cities: Almelo, Hengelo, and Enschede, fostering cooperation across various aspects of public life. Although the three cities do not currently possess Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), the city of Hengelo has developed a mobility plan that closely resembles a SUMP. This plan particularly emphasizes connectivity with the North Sea-Baltic corridor. Netwerkstad Twente is part of the Euregional region, situated along the North Sea-Baltic corridor and the Münster-Zwolle railway corridors.
Aim: The cities have jointly embarked on the Fellow Cities project, with a specific focus on multi-level governance. They aim to showcase examples of successful cooperation within the "triple helix" framework, as well as cross-border collaborations. The primary objective is to gain a deeper understanding of European policies and strategies centered around cross-border and interregional cooperation. Through this project, the cities seek to learn from the experiences of other European cities and identify best practices that can be adapted and implemented within their regional context. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance mobility and sustainable development within the Twente region and beyond.
Challenges
The three cities of Netwerkstad Twente closely collaborate with the German cities of Osnabrück and Münster through the MONT cooperation (M=Münster, O=Osnabrück, and NT=Netwerkstad Twente). As a result of this cooperation, the cities have jointly developed a MONT strategy, which encompasses mobility as one of its four main themes. The overarching goal concerning mobility is to promote sustainability and connectivity within the cities and the cross-border region.
Currently, their actions are focused on the development of sustainable urban and regional logistics, with a particular emphasis on rail connections in combination with long-distance connections to cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, and the Baltic countries. This initiative aims to foster connectivity and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, energy, high-tech clusters, and logistics hubs along the corridor.
However, the three cities face several challenges:
Development & Implementation of smart and sustainable solutions: They must work on developing and implementing smart and sustainable solutions to address mobility challenges within the cities and the broader European region. This involves collaboration with various levels of governance to achieve the overarching goal of sustainability and connectivity.
Maintenance of regional mobility fluidity: Ensuring the smooth flow of regional mobility is crucial, especially with the mix of long-distance transport passing through the region. This includes addressing first and last-mile issues to improve connectivity and accessibility for commuters and travelers within the region. Efforts in this area aim to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of regional transportation networks.
Objectives
The three cities of Almelo, Hengelo, and Enschede are focusing on the following objectives concerning transport and mobility:
Upscaling sustainable solutions to optimize urban logistics: The cities aim to implement sustainable solutions to optimise urban logistics, to achieve zero emissions and reduce congestion resulting from city logistics. This involves promoting the use of eco-friendly transportation methods and adopting innovative technologies to improve the efficiency of urban freight transport while minimising environmental impact.
Shifting the modal split from car to walking/cycling: The cities seek to shift the modal split away from car usage towards walking and cycling. This entails reducing the number of car users and encouraging the adoption of more sustainable modes of transportation such as walking and cycling.
Advocating for connectivity with other (inter)national regions: The cities advocate for improved connectivity with other national and international regions along the North Sea-Baltic corridor. Additionally, they aim to foster a change in social behavior regarding mobility, promoting the use of public transportation, carpooling, and other sustainable transportation options. By strengthening connections and promoting sustainable mobility practices, the cities aim to enhance regional integration and promote environmentally friendly transportation choices.
Exploring optimization of the daily urban system (DUS) in connection with rural communities: The cities are exploring ways to improve the daily urban system (DUS) while maintaining connections with rural communities. This involves improving transportation infrastructure and services to better serve both urban and rural areas, ensuring equitable access to mobility options for all residents.