Zagreb launches plan to reshape how people travel around the city

Zagreb has officially begun developing a new sustainable urban mobility plan that will set out long-term priorities for the city’s transport system, with a focus on improving public transport, road safety and the daily journeys of residents.

The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) is intended to address traffic congestion, noise and pollution while making it easier and safer for people to travel around the Croatian capital.

The project was formally launched at an initial meeting in Zagreb, where the approach, planned activities, timetable and responsibilities of the project team were presented.

The preparation of the plan will take 14 months, with completion scheduled for December 2027. The contract, worth €288,000 excluding VAT, has been awarded to a consortium led by Ernst & Young Savjetovanje and the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, with contributions from civil society organisation ODRAZ and architecture and urban planning company INTERDIS.

Andro Pavuna, head of Zagreb’s city office responsible for local government, transport, municipal services, civil protection and safety, said the plan would focus on people’s everyday travel needs.

The strategy will examine how residents can reach workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities and other essential services more easily and safely, while improving connections between different forms of transport.

Its scope will cover walking, cycling, public transport, private cars, parking, freight transport and deliveries. Transport planning will also be linked to urban development and environmental protection, allowing the city to assess how infrastructure decisions affect the wider urban environment.

A key objective is to improve public transport, increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users, and make more effective use of existing transport infrastructure and public space.

The plan will also consider the needs of children, older people, people with disabilities and other residents who face particular barriers when travelling around the city.

Public consultation will form part of the process. Planned activities include workshops, focus groups and meetings to gather experiences and proposals from different parts of Zagreb.

Transport operators, public authorities, businesses, associations and other relevant stakeholders will also be invited to contribute.

The final document will include a five-year action plan identifying the organisations responsible for implementing selected measures, deadlines, estimated costs and potential funding sources.

The initiative is also linked to the European Union’s wider transport policy. Under the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) framework, urban nodes within the network are required to adopt sustainable urban mobility plans by the end of 2027.

For Zagreb, the strategy is intended to provide a framework for setting transport investment priorities and preparing projects that could qualify for European funding.

The measures ultimately adopted will help determine how the city approaches transport development and mobility in the years ahead.