Different cities, common challenges? An analysis of urban freight transport developments and strategies in the Baltic Sea Region

Paper in proceeding, 2008

Freight transport issues at the city level are still not well understood and there is no widespread methodology specifically aimed at the analysis and planning of freight movements. To reach sustainability new organizational models for the management of freight movements within the city limits are called for. The purpose of this article is to identify the deficits of current urban transport planning practices which cause the lack of understanding of freight transport in urban areas. By this the article contributes to laying the ground for designing strategies and solutions to overcome the challenge of securing the mobility of goods and at the same time reducing unsustainable impacts from freight transport. Interviews with stakeholders were conducted in four cities in the Baltic Sea Region. A large quantity of local actors and stakeholders has contributed to this analysis. The study shows, that interaction and cooperation of all involved actors are necessary but lacking, including both actors from the public and private sector. Furthermore, taking into account freight transport’s growing contribution to the negative impacts, compared to passenger transport, city authorities need more capacity and competence within this area.