On December 2 and 3, METREX, the Network for European Metropolitan Regions and Areas (with over 56 members), convened an event in Milan, Italy, focused on sustainable mobility in metropolitan areas. The meeting, themed “Public Mobility and Transport in European Metropolitan Cities,” was organised by the Metropolitan City of Milan and hosted by Deputy Mayor Francesco Vassallo, Counselor Marco Griguolo, and Director Dario Parravicini.
Highlights included presentations on Milan’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), innovations in last-mile freight logistics, promotion of active travel such as cycling, and a guided visit to the metro network control rooms. The Metropolitan City of Genoa also shared insights during the event.
This visit is part of a broader METREX initiative to explore the state of the art in public transport across its member regions. Earlier visits included Transport for West Midlands in the UK, with upcoming visits planned to Lyon and the metropolitan region of The Hague-Rotterdam. METREX will provide a final report on these exchanges for all its members and beyond.
For the Portuguese delegations from the Intermunicipal Entities of Cávado and Ave and the Urban Quadrilateral Association, these events offer valuable learning opportunities. The discussions foster the exchange of best practices, address shared challenges, and encourage urban-rural collaboration to drive innovation in urban transport, sustainability, and technological advancement.
The Milan meeting also served as a vital networking platform, promoting partnerships between European institutions, research organizations, governmental bodies, and international stakeholders.
