Local public transport in Modica, the Municipality initiates the process for the awarding of the service.

The Municipality of Modica takes a new step in the modernization of urban public transport, initiating the process for the European awarding of the local public transport service. This choice is considered strategic by the administration, aiming to bring a turning point in the management of urban mobility.

“This is a particularly significant step,” explains the Councillor for Urban Mobility, Antonio Drago, “because for the first time the Municipality of Modica is preparing to start the procedure for awarding the TPL service based on Italian and European regulations. In this regard, reference is made to the European Regulation No. 1370/2007 concerning public passenger transport services by road. It is a complex and highly regulated procedure, governed by the Transport Regulation Authority (ART), which ensures the full transparency of the acts and the correctness of the entire administrative process.”

The initiation of the process is part of the continuation of the redevelopment path already undertaken.

“When we started to intervene in urban public transport,” Drago continues, “the situation was critically challenging. Today, thanks to the work done and the organizational choices made, the service has become efficient, functional, appreciated, and above all used by the users. The numbers regarding the use of urban lines clearly demonstrate this. But we are aware that improvement cannot stop here: that is why we have decided to take another step forward.”

For the management of the technical-administrative process, the Municipality will rely on the support of ISFORT S.p.A. – Higher Institute for Training and Research for Transport, which will assist the offices in the preparation of documents and the definition of the standards required for the future operator.

“We have chosen to be assisted by a highly specialized structure,” adds the councillor, “that will support us in the definition of the preparatory documents for the awarding of the service, in compliance with national regulations and the regulatory measures dictated by the Transport Regulation Authority: from the analysis of the current situation, to the definition of technical requirements, to the consultation of stakeholders, up to the preparation of the economic-financial plan.”

The assignment will have a multi-year duration, with the aim of ensuring management stability and promoting investments. "A long-term assignment," emphasizes Drago, "allows for the construction of a solid and sustainable management model. It means being able to ask the company that will manage the service for significant investments, such as the renewal of the fleet, the introduction of innovative technologies, the improvement of line organization, and, if necessary, also the increase in mileage. All elements that contribute to making the service more efficient and modern."

In this preliminary phase, in line with the guidelines of ISFORT and the measures of ART, the administration will initiate the consultation of stakeholders: a notice to collect observations will be published shortly.

"It is a complex task, but necessary if we want to deliver to the city of Modica a stable, modern mobility system that meets the needs of its citizens."

With this process, the Municipality aims to consolidate the results achieved and to build a public transport model capable of supporting the city's growth in the coming years.