Public transport optimization action plan for the unified public transport system of Šiauliai district and Šiauliai city was drawn up based on opportunities and goal committment provided by nowadays public transport. This action plan is drawn up in order to implement the ambition of public transport optimization in two municipalities, this way contributing to sustainable transport solutions, social involvement and efficient implementation of supply of the public transport services. The document is an important guide in the process of public transport optimization in Šiauliai city and district, providing principles and main guidelines for achievement of the objectives pursued.
While Šiauliai city and district are facing such challenges, as a decreasing number of inhabitants, ageing population, increasing urbanization, uptake of new and alternative ways of mobility, etc., it is important to adapt to the current tendencies as well as to develop services and infrastructure of public transport based on the aforementioned. Today, a concept of public transport comprises not solely the individual vehicles ensuring mobility of people; it actually plays more important and a wider role in everyday context of the society, namely it encourages connectivity, socialization, shows inhabitants‘ urbanization tendencies, and becomes a part of inhabitants‘ pastime. The main goal and challenge set to the nowadays public transport is actually the competition with a private car. Due to high tendencies among inhabitants to choose a private car, suppliers and organisers of public transport are obliged to consistently and strategically improve the services provided by public transport along with their quality.
A vision of CMP optimization was prepared - Šiauliai city and district public transport is a sustainable, accessible, convenient and safe way to travel quickly in both the city and the district.
The vision is formed as a set of two essential priority directions of the transport system - the transport system of the functional zone must be 1) friendly to the population and the environment; 2) Competitive and efficient.
The first priority direction – population and environment, is implemented on the basis of the following principles: 1) environment-friendly transport; 2) intermodal transport and its infrastructure; 3) accessible, punctual and frequent public transport; 4) safe public transport; socially responsible public transport; 5) attractive public transport.
The second priority direction is efficiency and competitiveness. It is implemented on the basis of the following principles: 1) combined urban and suburban transport administration; 2) a coherent and integrated network of the public transport system; 3) integrated ticketing system; 4) competitiveness; 5) integrated passenger information system; 6) development perspectives.
In accordance with the above-mentioned priority directions, and taking into account the principles presented, a list of priority areas of CMP implementation and implementation measures was prepared.
The first priority area is public transport, which includes three objectives: renewal and development of public transport infrastructure, renewal of the public transport fleet and improving the accessibility of public transport.
The second priority area of the plan is sustainable mobility. There are two objectives in the priority area. Objective I is the renewal and development of the infrastructure of the alternative transport and objective II is to ensure intermodal transport.
The third priority area of the plan is the integration of the public transport of Šiauliai city and Šiauliai district. There are three objectives in this priority area. Objective I is the optimization and reorganization of public transport route, objective II is the deployment and integration of smart IT systems and solutions and objective III includes the creation of a regional mobility system.