The Kick-Off Meetings of the Service and Supply Components of the Gaziantep Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy Plan Project (GAUS), implemented under the Sectoral Operational Programme for Transport (USOP) as part of the Türkiye-EU financial cooperation managed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, were held on 25-26 December 2024. The meeting was chaired by Tijen İğci (PhD), Head of Department for EU Investments, and attended by Abdullah Özdal, Head of Transport Department of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, representatives of the Department for EU Investments, representatives of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, representatives of the contractor consortium and the project team. Following the opening speeches of Tijen İğci (PhD) and Abdullah Özdal emphasising the importance of the project, the meeting was concluded with presentations on the general scope, operation and progress plan of the project.
The Gaziantep Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy Plan Project aims to develop a sustainable and smart mobility strategy and smart solutions for the Municipality of Gaziantep in order to contribute to the transition from private car transport to sustainable, smart, safe, efficient, and accessible transport modes in the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Region and to promote the transition to sustainable transport modes based on smart mobility services and solutions/technologies. The project consists of procurement and service components. The project duration is 11 months.
Within the scope of the project supply component, the existing smart transport infrastructure in Gaziantep will be developed, transport camera systems, sensors at intersections, VMSs (Variable Message Signs), accessible pedestrian buttons, bicycle and pedestrian sensors will be purchased. In addition, 18 m electric buses will be purchased and integrated into the urban public transport network to support the public transport network, which was seriously damaged in the earthquakes of 6 February 2023, and charging stations will be installed.
Within the scope of the project
service component, the existing intelligent transport systems infrastructure
in the city will be examined and the architecture of intelligent transport
systems will be prepared. The equipment to be purchased in the procurement
part will also be integrated into the existing infrastructure. Traffic
management systems will be gathered under a single platform with the software
to be developed, and routing and solutions will be solved faster with the
support of artificial intelligence. Existing traffic and transport
infrastructure will be analyzed and disaster transport and logistics will be
assessed.