International Transportation | Collection 2023 20 BEST PRACTICE Urban mobility Urban mobility in Ukraine: Eight building blocks for a green recovery What does it need to foster sustainable mobility in post-war Ukrainian cities? Ukraine, Sustainable mobility, Recovery, Reconstruction This article discusses the challenges and opportunities for sustainable mobility in post-war Ukrainian cities. The discussion covers various building blocks of sustainable mobility, such as regulatory reform, financing, local value creation and planning approaches. The focus is on providing a framework for futureoriented decision making. Marta Pastukh, Mathias Merforth, Viktor Zagreba, Armin Wagner T he war in Ukraine has a significant impact on urban transport infrastructure, with variations between regions. The eastern regions have suffered from physical destruction, while the central and western regions face challenges in accommodating refugees and dealing with resource shortages. Preexisting problems of underinvestment, lack of strategic guidance for urban mobility and the need for fleet renewal exacerbate the situation. A joint report by the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine, the European Union and the United Nations estimates total damage to the transport sector at USD 35.7 billion by February 2023, while reconstruction and immediate recovery needs are estimated at USD 92.1 billion. Reconstruction, which is already underway, is critical to maintaining urban services and the country’s economic viability (Figure 1). At the same time, the debate about the nature of this reconstruction is growing. Although numerous papers have been published on green recovery in general and on specific sectors in particular, few discuss Ukraine’s urban mobility systems. In this regard, we should be aware of the following: •• In Ukraine, despite Russian aggression, considerable efforts are currently being made to keep the transport system running and modernize it at the same time. New and renovated vehicles, enhanced services and new roads are being completed even during the war. Innovative approaches such as cashless ticketing are also being pursued. Overall, the efforts of Ukrainian workers and decision-makers in the transport sector are very high and worthy of full recognition. •• In Ukraine - as in many other countries - urban transport has no proper place within national structures. Cities thus maintain a great deal of ownership over urban transport issues and thus see greater opportunity for transformational change - a positive thing that should not be undone. Yet these municipalities often lack appropriate governance structures and access to funding - which is even more true for medium-sized and small cities. •• “Healing” the tremendous war damages wrought on public transport systems, urban roads, bridges and vehicle fleets is not only necessary to getting the Ukrainian economy back on track. It could also trigger the rise of a new strategic sector with economic growth and employment opportunities, as we will later outline. Against this backdrop, this paper outlines eight essential building blocks for a green recovery in urban mobility as part of broad reform agenda in Ukraine. By implementing the suggestions in this proposal, Ukraine and its international partners will Figure 1: Bomb attack on Saltivske tram depot in Kharkiv Source: Міністерство внутрішніх справ України / commons.wikimedia.org International Transportation | Collection 2023 21 Urban mobility BEST PRACTICE reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, and the number of people killed in vehicle-related accidents - while constantly improving quality of life. The eight building blocks interconnect and reinforce each other as they form the foundation for a sustainable development of urban mobility. In a sense, they shape the institutional and administrative framework required for the further development of urban mobility in Ukraine. 1. Develop a National Urban Mobility Policy Programme (NUMP) in Ukraine to align urban transport planning and policymaking in all cities with European perspectives and the Lugano Principles. A NUMP will enhance the capability of cities to plan, finance, and implement projects sustainably while harmonizing laws, norms, sector strategies, investments, and support programs. Efficient coordination and effective support from the national to the city level will improve investment conditions and bring urban mobility systems on to a sustainable and low carbon track. The development of a NUMP should actively support directional economic development decisions such as digitalization and higher value creation through renewable energy production, smart electric components, vehicle/ bus/ tram production, and battery production. 2. Develop and adopt Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP) as a prerequisite for investments and decision-making in urban transport A SUMP provides a structured process that can help cities create an integrated, green, accessible, and affordable mobility infrastructure that moves citizens and goods in a sustainable and inclusive way locally, while globally reducing transport-related GHG emissions. The multi-stakeholder approach taken by the SUMP also strengthens cooperation and participation among different stakeholders and interest groups, leading to higher acceptance and ownership of the proposed measures. The use of traffic planning methodologies as well as data collection and management should be mandatory in order to improve SUMP processes. The establishment of effective mobility departments responsible for all aspects of mobility planning will be crucial, as they will be in a position to influence and manage the underlying causes of mobility trends. Example Lviv (see Figure 2): The city of Lviv developed a SUMP that was formally approved in 2018. The SUMP process supported awareness-raising measures for deputies, decision-makers and district administrations. All stakeholders agreed that the pedestrian as well as public transport should be prioritised at the top of the mobility pyramid (an inverted structure); that facilitated the decision to create separate lanes for PT and trolleybuses. It has become easier to justify projects to international organisations when they are included in the SUMP. At the institutional level, the SUMP process addressed a lack of institutionalisation; a significant change came with the establishment of a new department for urban mobility and street infrastructure. Prior to that, the transport office was under the domain of the Department for Housing. 3. Strengthening and integrating local public transport systems requires implementing a threetier structure. Local authorities should define policy goals, while a non-commercial entity (such as a transit alliance) manages and pays for transport services. Bus and rail operators should be contracted to deliver services. This approach can integrate all public transport services and modes in a city or region into one attractive and easy-to-use system. It may make sense to establish transit alliances starting from oblast capitals and integrating functional transport areas of surrounding hromadas. Additionally, a Ukraine-wide fare and ticketing system could be introduced using digital possibilities. 4. Launching a national Innovation and upscaling campaign An innovation program for shared learning to promote sustainable mobility should be launched. It should focus on five thematic areas including Transport Demand Management, Livable Cities, Climate-transformative mobility, Smart mobility, and Transparent governance in mobility. The program should encourage cities to propose and implement sustainability-oriented reform projects using renewable resources and domestic know-how. A Secretariat should be established to evaluate proposals and monitor implementation, with funding provided by the National Fund for Sustainable Urban Mobility. The program should also include seminars, publications, and media activities to promote the dissemination of knowledge and encourage participation from stakeholders. Foreign donors are invited to provide funding and share their experience. 5. Securing adequate funding for mobility policy in Ukraine To address the issue of funding, Ukraine needs to explore the concept of user financing and complementary funding for transport investments, with funds for service and maintenance. Funding should also reflect the internalization of negative external effects such as air pollution, traffic congestion, and climate change. To provide good local public transport, state and municipal subsidies are common in many countries, where high socio-economic benefits such as accessibility to workplaces, reduced noise, emissions, and resource consumption, and accident prevention are recognized. It is important to make the benefits of subsidizing these services clear, transparent, and reflected in increased user figures. One solution is the establishment of a National Fund for Sustainable Urban Mobility. This fund could be linked to the national road fund and replenished through increased fuel taxes on petrol and diesel or based on vehicle registration tax. It is crucial to emphasize that the political responsibility for funding and financial pri- Figure 2: Planned transport hub in Lviv Source: Institute for Spatial Development Lviv International Transportation | Collection 2023 22 BEST PRACTICE Urban mobility oritization should lie with the cities and hromadas. 6. Shifting towards participatory planning approaches and modern design principles Municipal streets and public spaces should be reconstructed based on elaborate planning processes involving public participation and competition between designers, with a focus on more ambitious designs for sustainable mobility. This involves prioritizing mobility management and mixed traffic in city centers (as compared to the often rigid separation today) and residential areas, and establishing a strong link between spatial development and mobility. Prioritization should be based on economic, social, and environmental impacts, with walking and public transport given priority over general traffic and parked vehicles. Local decision-makers and technical staff should be empowered to implement these changes, and systematic capacity building should be promoted. National standards in vehicle manufacturing, road construction, and technology should also be reformed to reflect new developments. 7. Promote sustainable transport industries as building block of the new Ukrainian economy. Ukraine should focus on developing sustainable transport industries to boost its economy - including by modernizing its urban infrastructure and expanding its capacities as a producer of locomotives, railway coaches, buses, trams and electric supplies. To achieve this, Ukraine could develop an Urban Mobility Industry & Investment Strategy that provides a comprehensive overview of investment options for the production of sustainable mobility vehicles, supplies, and infrastructure in Ukraine for domestic and international clients. By doing so, Ukraine can create modern jobs, transform its economy, and position itself as a production hub ready for European and global markets. 8. Endurance and persistence for ongoing reform and adaptation A green recovery approach offers the opportunity to speed up previously initiated reforms, to reform comprehensively as well as ambitiously and in line with European practices and objectives. To accelerate ongoing regulatory reform, upgrading of skills, and international networking, we suggest conducting a comprehensive analysis of the need for reform and benchmarking against European standards. This should cover topics such as legislative basis, academic curricula, and international networking. Ukraine has committed to sustainable mobility-oriented actions under the Association Agreement with the EU, but progress reports have been delayed due to the war. For its implementation, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on October 25, 2017 with Resolution No. 1106 approved the “Plan of measures for the implementation of the Association Agreement”. The document was adopted in May 2018, and an Implementation Plan to it was adopted three years later, in April 2021. Both documents are large in scope and scale, and have at least 17 mentions of sustainable mobility-oriented actions that are in line with EU Green Deal. The plan contains more than 120 tasks in the field of transport, most of which relate to legal and economic regulation in the sector of rail transport, aviation, sea, and river traffic. Just three tasks concern urban public transport, and the government has not delivered on this commitment yet. The government should prioritize implementing these commitments, and an observatory can be used to monitor progress and ensure communication. Summary The above building blocks are not an exhaustive overview of all the challenges related to sustainable mobility in post-war Ukrainian cities. Other crucial issues such as inadequate statistics, corruption, poor road safety, lack of urban logistics strategies and lack of parking management have not been discussed. The aim is to present basic building blocks that can provide a framework for future-oriented decisionmaking. The choices made for or against individual approaches and priorities within each of these areas will have a significant impact on mobility in Ukrainian cities over the coming decades. Therefore, before making any decisions, it is essential to assess whether the measures will make individual car use more attractive or promote walking, cycling and public transport. The decision should be in line with the new paradigm that favours diverse, attractive and affordable mobility with minimal negative impacts. The policy course for sustainable mobility in Ukraine will be set over the next few years. It is clear that there are no onesize-fits-all solutions, quick wins or lowcost options. Success will only come from continuous and systematic policy development and positive intellectual conflict of ideas. ■ SOURCES A full version of this article can be found here: https: / / transformativemobility.org/ anchoring-green-recovery-of-urban-mobility-inukraine-eight-building-blocks/ Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment: March 2023, the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine, the European Union, the United Nations The Urban Transport Sector in Ukraine - A baseline report in the context of the War of 2022 and prospects for a cgreen post-war recovery of Ukraine (Viktor Zagreba, Demayn Danylyuk) Prepared by Oresund LLC, Ukraine at the assignment of the European Climate Foundation. October 2022 Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) Toolkit SUMP learning programme for mobility practitioners National Urban Mobility Policies and Investment Programmes (NUMP) Toolkit UKRAINE - RAPID DAMAGE AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT“ (World Bank, Ukrainian Government, EU) Sustainable Urban Transport - Financing from the Sidewalk to the Subway; Capital, Operations, and Maintenance Financing (Arturo Ardila- Gomez and Adriana Ortegon-Sanchez) Urban Mobility in Ukraine: The 13 billion Euro gap - The next decade’s reform and investment needs (Mathias Merforth, prepared by GIZ- SUTP), April 2014 Armin Wagner Senior Advisor Sustainable Mobility, GIZ, Eschborn (DE) armin.wagner@giz.de Marta Pastukh Advisor Sustainable Mobility, GIZ, Eschborn (DE) marta.pastukh@giz.de Mathias Merforth Project Manager Sustainable Mobility, GIZ, Eschborn (DE) mathias.merforth@giz.de Viktor Zagreba Chairperson, NGO Vision Zero (UA) viktor@zagreba.com