MISTRAL: An Information System for Local Public Transport Services in Lombardy

The local public transport system in the Lombardy Region is to be restructured in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public transportation. In line with EU and national legislation, public authorities are to be directly responsible for the planning and financial support of public transport, stipulating contracts with train and bus companies setting out specific requirements on both sides for the supply of transportation services (regional authorities for rail transport and local authorities for bus transport). Monitoring of the transport system is therefore a key activity for the Region in planning local railway services and promoting – in agreement with Provinces – a regional, trans-modal transport network which makes better use of transport facilities. MISTRAL is a project which aims to define an information system to support regional and local authority planning of transport activities by: · monitoring the contracts for transportation services that public authorities are to stipulate with train and bus companies; · evaluating the transport system through indicators related to mobility and transport demand, bus and train supply (involving both transportation and economic aspects) and all issues affecting public transport (e.g.: distribution of public facilities such as schools, possibility of park-and-ride etc.); · providing support to decision and negotiation processes with methodologies based on multicriteria analysis, sensitivity analysis and analytical techniques for solving conflict; · providing standard information and procedures regarding the regional transport system to public authorities, transport companies and users.Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne