A meeting was held this evening at the Lazio Region's headquarters between the Regional Councillor for Transport, Fabrizio Ghera, the representatives of ASTRAL and COTRAL and ANCI Lazio, aimed at setting up a permanent round table on transport, with a particular focus on the critical aspects of public road transport services in the region's inland areas.
The meeting was attended by the Director of ASTRAL, Ing. Carlo Cecconi, the President of COTRAL Manolo Cipolla and the ANCI Lazio delegation composed of the Secretary General Luca Masi and the members of the Executive Board: Domenico Alfieri, Mayor of Paliano and transport delegate in the ANCI Lazio Executive, Daniele Mioni, Mayor of Vallepietra, and Manuel Magliocchetti, Deputy Mayor in charge of Transport of the Municipality of Palestrina.
During the meeting, the main critical issues related to local public transport were shared, also in the light of the recent reorganisation of the regional LPT through the Network Units (UdR): the new model that divides Lazio into 11 homogeneous territorial areas, coordinated by Astral, with the aim of rationalising routes, improving integration between vehicles, and simplifying the service for citizens, also through the integrated Metrebus Plus pricing system.
It was agreed that this transition phase must be tackled in a coordinated manner, ensuring constant dialogue between the region, transport companies and local authorities. It was also anticipated that the first changes to some lines will be introduced as early as next week, in order to respond to suggestions from the territories.
The establishment of the permanent round table came about at the request of ANCI Lazio, which promoted the comparison as a stable listening and coordination tool.
«ANCI Lazio has made its technical structure available to support the work of the permanent round table and ensure a continuous and operational discussion on public transport issues»said Secretary General Luca Masi.
«As mayor of Paliano and transport delegate in the ANCI Lazio Executive, I consider it fundamental to accompany the start-up of the Network Units with a constant dialogue with the territories, so that the new organisations really respond to the needs of the communities»stressed Domenico Alfieri.
«Direct dialogue with the Region and the transport companies is indispensable to transform the municipalities' reports into timely interventions and operational solutions, ANCI Lazio acts as a primary actor to give voice to the territories and facilitate communication between all the realities involved»added Manuel Magliocchetti, Transport Councillor of the Municipality of Palestrina.
In the same vein is Daniele Mioni, Mayor of Vallepietra: «.«For small municipalities, public transport is an essential service. This table represents a concrete opportunity to monitor the implementation of the Network Units and to intervene promptly on critical issues».
ANCI Lazio thus confirms its role as a link between institutions and territories, with the aim of guaranteeing a more efficient, integrated public transport service that is closer to the needs of citizens.