Within the scope of Türkiye–EU financial cooperation,
the Closing Ceremony of the Düzce Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP)
Project, co-financed with the EU under the Sectoral Operational Programme for
Transport (USOP) and implemented with Düzce Municipality as the End
Beneficiary,
was held on 9 April 2025 at the Prof. Dr. Erol Güngör Kültür Merkezi in Düzce
with broad participation.
The meeting was attended by Tijen İğci (PhD),
Head of Department for EU Investments at the Ministry of Transport and
Infrastructure; Haluk Çakmak, Deputy Governor of Düzce; Hasan Günden and Caner
Okan Kaltu, Deputy Mayors of Düzce Municipality; along with provincial
directors, representatives of public institutions, officials from the
contractor firm, members of the project team, and many distinguished guests.
Delivering the opening speech, İğci emphasized
that the project had been successfully completed. She expressed her gratitude
to Düzce Municipality, Mayor Faruk Özlü (PhD), municipal staff, and the
contractor team. İğci underlined that this initiative goes beyond addressing
motorized transport alone offering an environmentally conscious and
human-centered approach that prioritizes sustainable modes such as walking,
cycling, and public transport. She further noted that a plan tailored to
Düzce’s geographical characteristics, demographic structure, and economic
potential had been developed, with the primary aim of protecting the
environment, enhancing accessibility, and improving the quality of life.
Then Deputy Mayor Hasan Günden took the floor,
stating that transport should not be regarded solely as a technical issue, but
also as a crucial component of social life. He emphasized that the project had
focused on ensuring traffic safety, comfortable travel, and citizen-oriented
solutions. He also remarked that Düzce, due to its scale, serves as a strong
example for implementing sustainable transport initiatives, and that this
project represents a lasting contribution to the city's future.
In the technical session, Senior Transport
Planner Prof. Dr. Kemal Mert Çubukçu delivered a comprehensive presentation on
the fundamentals of transport modelling, the four-stage model, and its
application in the context of Düzce. Prof. Çubukçu highlighted the critical
importance of transport modelling in forecasting travel demand, conducting
scenario-based analysis, and supporting evidence-based decision-making. He also
provided technical insights into data quality and the model’s relevance to
strategic planning.
Finally, Project Team Leader Bas Govers presented
the details of the project’s final report. Govers noted that extensive
fieldwork carried out in Düzce had allowed for an accurate assessment of the
current situation and that the proposed strategies and projects hold
significant potential to transform all dimensions of the urban mobility system.
Emphasizing the suitability of Düzce’s urban form for sustainable mobility, he
added that concrete progress could be achieved in the short term, provided that
implementation steps are promptly taken.
The event concluded with a Q&A session and a
family photo.