Introduction to Metropolition Region Rotterdam – The Hague

Eric BavelaarHead public transport department

Stadsregio Rotterdam

‘Our biggest challenge…’

• Bicycle parking spaces near train/ metro stations

• Storage capacity Rotterdam station over 7.000 places

• Problem of ‘abandoned bikes’: removals yearly over 1.500 in Rotterdam

• Promising combination bike & rail -> new impulse to PT!

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Some stats about usNew Rotterdam – The Hague area

• Merging process• 2.2 million people, 1 mln jobs• 1.000 km² (density 2.200 p/km²)• Almost 450 km (light)rail• 24 municipalities• Nr 1 port in Europe, international court of justice, seat Dutch government• 80.000 expats, 130 international organisations, 10.000 foreign students

Note: ‘Smaller’ Amsterdam and Eindhoven areas have a better economic

performance and higher quality of life. Challenge to keep up with them.

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Merging process (political driven)• Dutch government: law to disband ‘Plusregions’• Debate: which scale is best suited to deal with transport issues:

– Randstad (7 mln)– Rotterdam- The Hague area (2,2 mln)

• Daily urban system? Towards multiple cores / network

Tasks new transport authority:• PT (tendering, maintainance, investments, excluded main rail)• Roads (process management, small investments)• Traffic safety• Bicycle, park & ride

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Randstad or Rotterdam The Hague area?

Public transport in the Netherlandscuriosities

• 19 PTA’s for regional PT (new law: 14 left)• Funding dependency on national government. PTA’s have no

tax income, 100% national financed.• Tendering busses by law. Except 4 largest regions: choice in

house/ tendering • We love cycling. Small market share PT trips <10 km • Cost coverage PT 50% (average NL)

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Strengths & weaknesses Rotterdam-The Hague

+ Strong rail system (450 km) as a backbone of our daily urban system (network, multiple cores)+ tradition of combined urban planning/ transport planning

- Image of PT, though image light rail improves fast- Poor influence PTA’s on heavy rail -> function as central backbone of PT network in Randstad

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Opportunities & threats Rotterdam – The Hague

+ Combinations PT with park&ride, bicycles+ Urbanisation within the Netherlands+/- Political attitude: focus at errors and social aspects of PT- Dutch real estate bubble (offices, housing) undermines integrated urban/transport planning

@EMTA: •Compare our ‘SWOT’-analyses to learn and inspire?•Share our success stories!

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

Our success story: ‘Randstad Rail’• Old main railway Rotterdam- The

Hague, only 8.000 p/day• Upgrade to metro:

now 30.000 p/day• Combined planning new

suburban housing and PT-network development

• Investment: € 800 mln• Note: along new metrostations

big shortage park&ride spaces and bicycle parkings

Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague