1. Introduction to Metropolition Region Rotterdam – The Hague Eric Bavelaar Head public transport department Stadsregio Rotterdam

2. ‘Our biggest challenge…’ Bicycle parking spaces near train/ metro stations Storage capacity Rotterdam station over 7.000 places Problem of ‘abandoned bikes’: removals yearly over 1.500 in Rotterdam Promising combination bike & rail -> new impulse to PT! Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

3. Some stats about us New Rotterdam – The Hague area Merging process 2.2 million people, 1 mln jobs 1.000 km² (density 2.200 p/km²) Almost 450 km (light)rail 24 municipalities Nr 1 port in Europe, international court of justice, seat Dutch government 80.000 expats, 130 international organisations, 10.000 foreign students Note: ‘Smaller’ Amsterdam and Eindhoven areas have a better economic performance and higher quality of life. Challenge to keep up with them. Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

5. Merging process (political driven) Dutch government: law to disband ‘Plusregions’ Debate: which scale is best suited to deal with transport issues: – Randstad (7 mln) – Rotterdam- The Hague area (2,2 mln) Daily urban system? Towards multiple cores / network Tasks new transport authority: PT (tendering, maintainance, investments, excluded main rail) Roads (process management, small investments) Traffic safety Bicycle, park & ride Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

6. Randstad or Rotterdam The Hague area?

7. Public transport in the Netherlands curiosities 19 PTA’s for regional PT (new law: 14 left) Funding dependency on national government. PTA’s have no tax income, 100% national financed. Tendering busses by law. Except 4 largest regions: choice in house/ tendering We love cycling. Small market share PT trips <10 km Cost coverage PT 50% (average NL) Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

8. Strengths & weaknesses Rotterdam-The Hague + Strong rail system (450 km) as a backbone of our daily urban system (network, multiple cores) + tradition of combined urban planning/ transport planning - Image of PT, though image light rail improves fast - Poor influence PTA’s on heavy rail -> function as central backbone of PT network in Randstad Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

9. Opportunities & threats Rotterdam – The Hague + Combinations PT with park&ride, bicycles + Urbanisation within the Netherlands +/- Political attitude: focus at errors and social aspects of PT - Dutch real estate bubble (offices, housing) undermines integrated urban/transport planning @EMTA: Compare our ‘SWOT’-analyses to learn and inspire? Share our success stories! Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague

10. Our success story: ‘Randstad Rail’ Old main railway Rotterdam- The Hague, only 8.000 p/day Upgrade to metro: now 30.000 p/day Combined planning new suburban housing and PT- network development Investment: € 800 mln Note: along new metrostations big shortage park&ride spaces and bicycle parkings Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague