The Project Steering Committee Meeting of Izmir
Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), which is financed under the Sectoral Operational Programme (USOP) for
Transport managed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, was held on 27 August 2024 at Izmir IzQ
Entrepreneurship Center. The eighth
Project Steering Committee Meeting was held to monitor progress in accordance
with the project schedule, objectives and contractual requirements and to guide
the next period.
The meeting was attended by Tolga Çilingir (PhD),
Head of Transportation Department at Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Assoc. Prof.
Dr. Yalçın Alver, SUMP Izmir technical coordination team of Izmir Metropolitan
Municipality, Tijen İğci (PhD), Head of Department for EU Investmentsof the
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Göktuğ Kara (PhD), Transport Sector
Manager of the EU Delegation, and representatives from Ministry of Transport
and Infrastructure, Menno Menist, the Director of the Consortium Leader Company
Panteia, and representatives of the Consortium partners.
The meeting started with the introduction of the
meeting agenda by Team Leader Prof. Dr. Ela Babalık. Prof. Dr. Ela Babalık gave brief information
about the recent activities, the 2nd Stakeholder Engagement Workshop
and the upcoming European Mobility Week.
Afterwards, International Project Deputy Team Leader Carolina Ramos made
a presentation on current progress in the project timeline and completed
activities.
During the meeting, the importance of inter-party
communication and cooperation on joint efforts and the success of the project
was emphasized. Tolga Çilingir (PhD),
Head of Transportation Department of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Yalçın Alver made remarks on the contributions they expect from the
project in the coming periods. On behalf of the Final Beneficiary, participants
from Izmir Metropolitan Municipality underlined the importance of developing a
strategy for the future activities of the project and identifying areas that
require special attention.
Göktuğ Kara (PhD), Transport Sector Manager
representing the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, stated that the
EU Delegation emphasized the importance of the upcoming European Mobility Week
and expressed their readiness to support all activities within this framework. On behalf of the Contracting Authority, Tijen
İğci (PhD), Head of Department for EU Investments of of the Ministry of
Transport and Infrastructure, stated that their greatest wish is the successful
completion of all SUMP projects in our country. Tijen İğci (PhD) also
emphasized that the recent improvements are pleasing but all the remaining work
needs to be accelerated. İsmail Abacı
from the Financial Management Unit of the Contracting Authority provided his
contribution by indicating the points that the Project should prioritize in
terms of financial planning in the coming period.
It was stated by the project managers
representing the Project Consortium that the project schedule and planning of
the activities will continue intensively. Weekly progress meetings will continue to be
held between the Project Consortium representatives and Izmir Metropolitan
Municipality, the Delegation of the European Union and the Contracting
Authority on dates to be determined.