Preliminary assessment of the third payment request of Romania (2024)

proposing new constructions must identify and provide public transport routes and easy access to public transport services. Finally, Article 20 provides that a minimum residential density of 40 inhabitants per hectare will be sought to support public transport. Setting a minimum residential density target helps ensure that public transport is efficient, namely that it serves the most people with minimum resource. Article 20 therefore contributes to securing access to public transport.

• - the establishment of the Guide to develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans in

compliance with the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy C (2020) 789/2020 (Commission Communication) ...

Article 6 c) of the Law states that the competent ministry must “draw up and approve the guide for drawing up sustainable urban mobility plans by ministerial order, in line with the provisions of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy”.

Article 43 calls on the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDPLA) specifically to “draw up a guide on the preparation of sustainable urban mobility plans”.

• - ... and the assessment and quality verification of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans;

Article 7 provides that a National Support Group for the optimisation of SUMPs is set up. This National Support Group was established by Ministerial Order No. 3232/2022 on the establishment, organization and functioning of the National Support Group for the optimization of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans published on 20 December 2022.

• - provisions to oblige urban municipalities to establish low-emission zones, preferential

routes (including bus lanes) for clean public transport. Furthermore, in line with the description of the measure, the legislation (…) binds urban municipalities to tackle air pollution at the city and functional area level through the adoption of a series of transport policies, such as the establishment of low-emission zones and incentives for the use of alternative means of transportation;

Article 22 requires the establishment of low-emission zones by the local public administration authorities. Article 28 requires county seat municipalities to establish lanes dedicated to public transport by 1 November 2026. measures to reduce road safety risk at urban level…

Articles 32 to 38 introduce measures to increase safety of road traffic in urban areas. In particular, Article 34(1) requires local public administration authorities to implement measures to calm traffic and control traffic speed, where appropriate, through the SUMP. Article 34(2) recommends that speed be limited to 50 km/h on certain municipal roads on the first lane. Article 39(1) requires local public administration authorities to take steps to establish timeslots for freight vehicles. Article 39(2) calls for the provision of embarkation/disembarkation zones in school areas. Finally, Article 42 requires the competent ministry to publish guidelines on traffic calming measures to increase citizens’ safety within 180 days of the entry into force of the law.

• - … and measures that allow to limit the space for private cars and the implementation and

monitoring of parking policies at local level;

Article 40 requires local public administration authorities to take measures to limit the use of personal vehicles in cities. Article 41(1) requires parking spaces to be arranged for bicycles and motorised vehicles. Article 41(2) requires the SUMP to include a section dedicated to informing the design, implementation and monitoring of parking and policies related to access to parking.