Case Study: KUSTOM - Municipal co-operation for safety and environment, Sweden

Website: www.vv.se/templates/page3____575.aspx (in Swedish only)

Case Study (54 Kb PDF)

Summary

In 2004, the regional West division of the Swedish Road Administration started up a co-operation project called "KUSTOM" - Municipal co-operation for safety and environment. The project aims at providing inhabitants of the municipality, companies, decision makers, employees of the municipality, organizations etc within a number of municipalities with facts and understanding of traffic safety and the environmental impacts of transportation. The intention is to increase the awareness level about traffic safety and through this achieves a safer and more environmentally sound society.

Activities carried out are e.g. activities towards employees of the municipal organisation focused on work place seminars where issues related to the environment and safety within transport has been discussed. Analyses of the present transport situation has been done in several municipalities which shows there is a potential to save both money and environment through efficiency actions such as use of car pools, clean vehicles, establishment of transport and purchase policies etc.

Through the work of "KUSTOM" traffic safety and environment have been put on the agenda and a channel for information has been created between the Swedish Road Administration and the municipalities. Political decision makers have been very positive to the project, the work methodology and the use of working structurally in this way.

Results

The results of the "KUSTOM" project so far has mainly been qualitative, but will strategically contribute to change in behaviours resulting in a more energy efficient, less fossil dependent and safer transport sector. The results so far:

• 44 municipalities in 16 groupings interacting over geographical borders with environment and safety related challenges in the transport sector.
• A successful work methodology to raise awareness about safety and environment in the transport sector, and the interacting between these two, has been established. This has created a local platform for these topics, which is very valuable since there are often little resources to deal with these topics locally.
• The informants have been given great response from both inhabitants of the municipalities and municipal bodies.
• Positive networking and coordination effects; between the municipal groupings and the between all actors participating in the projects. The ways for channelling information and contacts have been very appreciated. The co-operation within "KUSTOM" has also triggered co-operation within other areas in the municipalities.

Other conclusions from the project were that this type of project needs to proceed under a longer period of time due to several reasons. One is that creation of networks is one important, time consuming, factor. Another is that traffic safety and sustainable travel take a long time to implement. In addition, continuity is of high importance in this process.

Through the work of "KUSTOM" traffic safety and environment have been put on the agenda and a channel for information has been created between the Swedish Road Administration and the municipalities. Political decision makers have been very positive to the project, the work methodology and the use of working structurally in this way.

Lessons learned and repeatability

The lessons learned from the "KUSTOM" project is mainly that the structural work methodology of the project € having a specific resource (the informant) working with the topics that employees in the municipalities seldom have time to focus on otherwise € is working very well. This model can be repeated in most municipalities throughout Europe and at the same time be adjusted to local conditions.

One common problem is the financing of a person such as the informant, and this is solved within "KUSTOM" through the dividing of cost between the Swedish Road Administration and groups of municipalities. This solution is not only positive from a financial point of view, but also from a co-operation and coordination point of view € creating a common platform for these topics.

The project has also used several information tools, such as brochures, videos, exhibitions etc that can be translated and adapted to local conditions.

Overall, the model of the "KUSTOM" project is easily repeatable in European municipalities and from a Swedish point of view considered a good way to tackle the challenges municipalities are facing in the transport sector € with safety, air quality and climate change.

To find similar reports, click on a keyword below:
Citizens : Decision Makers : Education : Energy Efficiency : Local Government : ManagEnergy : Planning issues : Schools & Colleges : Sustainable Communities : Sustainable Development : Sustainable Transport : Transport Companies : User behaviour

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