Final Conference of the INTERREG III B projects
MONITRAF and ALPNAP

Transport across
the Alps

Approaches and common measures for a sustainable transport in the Alpine region


January 23 – 25, 2008
Innsbruck / Austria

 

The INTERREG projects MONITRAF and ALPNAP

"Transport across the Alps" is one of the most fervid discussed topics for the population, the scientific and the political spheres of the Alpine region. The transport's importance for the economic and social development, inside and outside the alpine arc, is undeniable. But at the same time, the traffic's negative effects have reached a critical level. It is more and more frequent that the emissions’ thresholds for harmful substances in the air are being exceeded. Besides that, the constantly increasing noise and its negative impacts on health and life quality of the local population represent also a serious problem generated by traffic.

Since 2005 the two “INTERREG III B Alpine Space” projects MONITRAF and ALPNAP deal with this topic. ALPNAP is dedicated to build an experts’ network, which investigates the air quality, noise, meteorologie and health. The research results of ALPNAP are directly connected with MONITRAF, a project dedicated to practical action! Seven regional partners in the Alpine space elaborate possible operative approaches to achieve a more sustainable transport in the alpine corridors.

The Conference

The conference presents the development of freight transport across the Alps, its effects and proposed actions for a more sustainable transport. Central attention is going to be given to the results of the research projects MONITRAF and ALPNAP.

The increase of freight traffic (together with all related impacts) is one of the most relevant political challenges that the alpine regions need to face. In order to mitigate the problem, and also to redirect it to a sustainable track, it is necessary to build a strategy which goes beyond the alpine countries’ national borders. During the conference, the last researches on this topic are going to be presented and possible measures are going to be discussed, with the intention to achieve a reduction of the negative traffic related impacts in the Alps. The package of measures agreed upon will be signed during the conference by the politic representatives from every region.

Special attention is also going to be given to the interrelation between meteorology, life quality, noise and health. The current assessment methods to investigate those aspects in the alpine environment are going to be discussed, as well as the future use of those methods in the traffic management and the reduction of its negative impacts.