Before the 1990s, Sundsvall had a severe image problem. “With all its industry and traffic problems, a usual question was ‘how can you live in Sundsvall?’”, says Christer Tarberg, Head of Public Transport.
The city, with the support of its politicians, started a project aiming at reducing the emissions from energy production and industries by the year 2000. “The results were rather good. But by 2000 we still had one problem, traffic. Back then 72 percent of the trips were made by private cars.”
By the time Sundsvall started its Sustainable Urban Mobility plan along with the BUSTRIP project, the city had already started creating a town vision with the support of the vice-mayor, other politicians, various municipal departments and stakeholders. The final decision on the vision was made in consensus in the city council in 2007.
“The timing for SUMP was right. But we didn’t just look at the traffic plan. Transport strategy was a continuation to the town vision which has a lot of political acceptance from political parties, ordinary citizens and stakeholder. All opinions were collected. After doing all that work it would be difficult to disagree on it.”
Two major problems in Sundsvall regarding transport were the railroad crossing the city centre and the passing European Road 4, looking rather cheerless, bare surfaces of asphalt leading through the city. “Our vision and plans include building the railroad underground and a travel centre above it, and developing the European 4 into more of a boulevard-and–city-type style, with lots of trees and a new bridge.”
The plan also included building houses closer to the city centre and supporting the use of public transport, walking and cycling. “We will proceed step by step; hopefully the situation is better by the year 2010”, Tarberg says, and adds this advice: “Rely on other stakeholders and institutions before solving problems”
Photo: Åsa Grip/BUSTRIP