The 2nd SUMP Izmir Project Stakeholder Engagement Workshop was Held

The 2^nd Stakeholder Engagement Workshop was organized within the scope of Izmir Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP Izmir) which is 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. On August 28^th, in the workshop held at IzQ Innovation Center, mobility requirements, future planning, resolutions and solutions were discussed with the aim of improving the quality of life in Izmir city.

The workshop was attended by Zeki Yıldırım, Deputy Secretary General of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yalçın Alver, Advisor to the Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality;  Tolga Çilingir (PhD), Head of Transportation Department of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality; Kubilay Atlay, Contract Manager at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye, Directorate General for European Union Affairs and Foreign Relations;  Göktuğ Kara (PhD), Transport Policy and Climate Change Team Coordinator at the EU Delegation to Türkiye; representatives of public institutions, professional associations and non-governmental organizations; representatives of the private sector; faculty members and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality bureaucrats.

Yıldırım: My hope grows when I see the broad engagement and participation.

Deputy Secretary General of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Zeki Yıldırım said: “Transportation is one of the most important parts of our lives. Our lives are now very complex, highly technological, and completely different needs and demands have emerged. My hope grows when I see the broad engagement and participation. It is extremely valuable to make an effort to find the right way together with all stakeholders.”

Alver: I consider us very lucky in this period.

Stating that the problems in transportation should be approached holistically, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yalçın Alver, Advisor to the Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, said: “Izmir is a very dynamic city. Our transportation needs are increasing every day. We need to plan our transportation system. I think we are very lucky in this period. Our mayor Cemil Tugay (PhD) believes that we need to obtain good data sets for long-term solutions to all problems for the future and he has such a vision. Tugay believes that we need to utilize artificial intelligence and technology. Most importantly, he believes and supports that especially the transportation system matter should be addressed in a holistic way. This is very valuable.”

Çilingir: We need have a cautious and meticulous approach.

Stating that the SUMP Izmir Project consists of four main components, Tolga Çilingir (PhD), Head of Transportation Department of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, said: “Undoubtedly, SUMP Izmir is a project aiming for a better quality of life. We need have a cautious and meticulous approach for such a project, which is people-centred, improves accessibility and quality of life, and requires interdisciplinary teamwork. Our biggest expectation from the project is that it will create a road map for Izmir's sustainable transportation policies and that the plan will be able to sustain itself with a dynamic model understanding.”

Atlay: We support the continous cooperation.

Kubilay Atlay, Contract Manager at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye, Directorate General for European Union Affairs and Foreign Relations, stated: “We support Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans all over Turkey, carry out existing collaborations and look for opportunities for new collaborations.”

Kara: Izmir Metropolitan Municipality appealed our attention as a municipality that is ready to take up challenges.

Reminding that the works on the urban action plan started in 2009, Göktuğ Kara (PhD), Transport Policy and Climate Change Team Coordinator at the EU Delegation to Türkiye, said: “Izmir appealed our attention as a municipality that runs prior and does not refrain from putting themselves to test in this regard and is ready to take up challenges. Starting from the period of the Urban Action Plan in 2009, our cooperation between the EU Delegation to Türkiye and Izmir has deepened.”

After the opening speeches were delivered, an interactive engagement session was held under the moderation of Project Team Leader Prof. Dr. Ela Babalık.  The afternoon session of the workshop started with group workshop discussions and group activities. Participants were divided into 6 tables and attended the activities planned. The workshop, which attracted great interest, ended with the “Move to the Future” panel with the participation of Project Team Leader Prof. Dr. Ela Babalık, Transportation Planning Branch Manager of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Demet Burçin Gezgin and Kubilay Atlay, Contract Manager at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye, Directorate General for European Union Affairs and Foreign Relations.