M MIITT PPoorrttuuggaall –– IISSTT TTrraannssppoorrtt PPoolliiccyy aanndd IInnssttiittuuttiioonnss
2009/04/05 Francisco Furtado
Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2 What is Sustainability? ............................................................................................................ 2 Motorways ................................................................................................................................................ 2 TGV ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
A Vision ................................................................................................................................... 4 Steps ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Restore and Reoccupy .............................................................................................................................. 5 Green Plan................................................................................................................................................. 6 Leadership to coordinate the mass transit system ................................................................................... 6 Power to the People ................................................................................................................................. 7
Obstacles and Critics ............................................................................................................... 7 Building a Social Base of Support ........................................................................................... 10 Final Advises.......................................................................................................................... 11 Annex List .............................................................................................................................. 12 1 – News Report small town accessibilities ............................................................................................ 12 2 – Tua line derailment ........................................................................................................................... 12 3 – Tamega line closing ........................................................................................................................... 12 4 – Freight study done by RAVEs orders ................................................................................................. 12 5 – Small Commerce threatens to Protest .............................................................................................. 12 6 – Small Commerce worries .................................................................................................................. 12 7- News Report shopping malls spreading ............................................................................................. 12 8 - News Report shopping malls spreading............................................................................................. 12 9 - News Report shopping malls spreading............................................................................................. 12 10 – Cuba, Sustainability Champion (LOL) .............................................................................................. 12 11 – Decline of Shopping Malls ............................................................................................................... 12
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 1
Introduction The purpose of this report is to provide the Mayor of Lisbon with a road map of measures on how to help the city become more environmentally sustainable. There are many fields1 were action is needed to provide a more sustainable environment, but in this report we will focus more on the transportation sector. Besides advising on a number of measures/steps to get more sustainable mobility/accessibility in Lisbon we will also focus on how to design the policy instruments to implement those measures and how to build a coalition that supports those moves. Possible obstacles will be addressed, and suggestions on how to overcome them presented. We first will present a very practical definition of Sustainability taking advantage of two examples in Portugal, then we will lay down a Vision of a more sustainable Lisbon, after we will list some steps needed to reach that vision, identify the main obstacles/critics to these measures and finally discuss on how to create a strong social base of support for this policies.
What is Sustainability? Before going in deep we will address this simple question, this word is used countless times, but few often reflect in what it actually means, and in fact it can mean different things and there is no standard accepted definition. But if this word will be a guideline, the Policy makers that take this banner must have a simple comprehension of what it means. So we will give two examples of what is not a sustainable transportation policy. Not aggravating the current situation and avoiding foolish measures is already a good and very important step. Motorways
1
Like having more energy efficient buildings
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 2
Portugal is the 7th country of Europe with more highways per Km2, above Spain, France or Austria and well above the European average. At the same time it´s bellow the average in almost all social and economical indicators, namely the GDP. At the same time we have one of the most congested roads in Europe (IC192) and there are countless small villages without proper accessibility3.
Polónia (PL) Filândia (FI) Estónia (EE) Irlanda (IE) Suécia (SE) Grécia (EL) Hungria (HU) Eslováquia (SK) Lituânia (LT) República Checa (CZ) Europa 22 Estados Reino Unido (UK) Europa 15 Estados França (FR) Austria (AT) Espanha (ES) Itália (IT) Portugal (PT) Dinamarca (DK) Eslovénia (SI) Alemanha (DE) Luxemburgo (LU) Bélgica (BE) Holanda (NL) 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
TGV The new high speed rail network Portugal intends to build fallowing the comendments of the European Comission represents a 8,5 Billion Euros investment4, about 20% will be funded by the EU. At the same time convencional lines that serve the population are closed without warning, are poorly mantained causing accidents and the modal share of freight traffic inside Portugal is 4% and with Spain is 2%5... With the resources aplied in the TGV all of these real problems could be solved, and the convencional system largely updated, and much more trucks and cars would be taken out of the roads (in comparison with the TGV effects).
2 3 4 5
See Occupy and connect part I See Annex 1. See documentation on Rave webpage www.rave.pt See Annex 2, 3 and 4.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 3
A Vision A Dense, Vibrant, Humanist City build for and by the Citizenry. This is a synthesis, a vision on how to achieve Sustainability in an Urban and Democratic environment. Figure 1 - Paradigm Shift
Lisbon City requires more inhabitants, most of the people that work in Lisbon come from outside, most of the traffic the city has is provoked by citizens that come from other areas. To increase the population of the center is key to reduce traffic, reduce commuter voyages and increase the eficiency and usefulness of mass transit inside the city. It would also allow the promotion of walking, biking and other soft modes. Sustainability cannot be seen as another tax to pay. It should be seen as a opportunity not only to save the future but to better the present. The sustainable city is vibrant, full of people walking, meeting in plazas and corners, discussing and debating politics, arts and science. It´s a space that fosters sharing, cooperation, creativity and innovation. New businesses, projects, associations, production of goods and services should grow as the city densifies and runs towards sustainability. The design of this re-densified city must have at the core the needs of the Citizen, not the needs of the Tourist, the consumer, or the banker. Space in the City should be shared by as many people as possible, from all walks of life, and is form the interactions among them that value (either in science, economie or the arts) is created. In the decisions taken on how to organize the space the citizens must allways have the final word, and a culture of participation, association and community organizing should be fostered.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 4
Steps Restore and Reoccupy This is at the core of a strategy that aims to foster sustainability, and should be the first priority. To restore the countless deserted, decaying buildings in the Polis and deliver them, at fair prices (for buying and renting) to young people (and others). Restoring should deliver spaces not just for housing but also for commerce, trade, arts, etc... There are many empty buildings owned by the city (and other public companies and institutions) that could be leased to people with innovative projects, and loans should also be made available. In order to maximize the effects of this policy the Municipality should foster partnerships with the central state, CGD (bank of the State), other public companies, professionals associations (like engineers and architects), Universities6, Unions and Neighbours committees. This approach should also be fostered in other Portuguese cities, if reduced to Lisbon, it would be an invitation to wave the “centralist” boogie man as the source of the country problems... This proposal addresses the problem of housing, transportation, of recovering vitality in the city, but it also allows the creation of much needed jobs in several ways7. So it comes as a combined answer to both the economic and environmental crises. It also allows the creation of broad coalition of young people that want to live in the center but can´t afford, technicians that would have a great field to exercise their expertises, Unions that would support new jobs, Environmental groups fighting for a sustainable future, old people and nowadays inhabitants that would have a better city to live in, unemployed and desperate sectors should also be
6 7
this would be a chance to have the city turned into a lab of restoration techniques, new planning methodologies and accessibility solutions Not just directly in construction, it opens doors to research connected with real projects and it also fosters self employment.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 5
brought on board, as well as small commerce representatives that would benefit from a less shopping mall oriented City8. Green Plan This is a structural component of the Restored City. To set up green corridors along the city allows getting cleaner air, harbours biodiversity, and provides natural corridors for the insertion of soft modes as one of the main parts of the mobility system, these corridors could also serve for some motorized public transport. Besides the Environmental “freaks” and some technicians, support for this should be fostered in the general public and especially among the older population that would receive better mobility and quality of life. Leadership to coordinate the mass transit system Lisbon City is served by Carris and Metro. The larger Metropolitan Area is served by CP (commuter train services: Sintra; Cascais; Azambuja), Fertagus (commuter train to south side), and Transtejo. The Municipality is not shareholder/stakeholder in none of these companies (either owned by the central State or private operators), moreover there is no institution to coordinate the system as a whole, and the newly approved Metropolitan Authorities haven´t still left the paper, and probably won´t. They lack both the resources and legitimacy9 to be effective. The City of Lisbon should provide leadership in this process, the municipality should promote an authority to oversee transportation in all the Metropolitan area and be a stakeholder of Carris and Metro. One interesting proposal would be to Merge all the above mentioned companies,
8
See annex 5 and 6 for small traders movements and 7 to 9 for the “shopping mall paradigm”, the strategic goal of the Lisbon Down Town was one also of a “open air shopping mall”(for this see Occupy and connect, part I). 9 They cannot set fees, charges or taxes, and the board is appointed not elected.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 6
and make the municipality a stakeholder of the new company. Either way, managing in an integrated way the public transports system, and giving the Municipality some power over the mass transit systems decisions in key. Power to the People Democracy and sustainability need to go hand in hand10. It will not be possible to provide parking space to all the inhabitants and visitors of the city and at the same time set up green corridors... If some of the streets become just for public transport, if dedicated lanes to trams are set up, they will include space that nowadays is legally and illegally taken by parking space. This is only one example, so a sustainable policy implies making some tradeoffs, although always pressing in this direction, the final decision should rest with each organized community/neighbourhood properly informed by technicians of what are the consequences of their decisions, and the trade offs they are making. Giving power to the people, threw the participatory budget for instance11, is also the best way to get all Citizenry mobilized around the
Figure 2 - Need of a mobilized and organized Citizenry
global “Occupy and Connect” program. Moreover, a organized and militant population, presses the authorities to act faster and better, it also better controls the allocation of resources and helps to minimize corruption12.
Obstacles and Critics
10
The fact that Cuba is the only “Sustainable” country in the world, see annex 10, could lead us to think that threw dictatorships a more sustainable future is easier to achieve. That is not the case since there are many, and more terrible, dictatorships that don´t perform as well as Cuba. Cuba achieved this score because it had no other alternative; the survival of the regime forced them to pursue this path. Besides that their very particular ideology (simplistically labelled as “communist”) could easily accommodate this new paradigm. 11 See Occupy and Connect, part I 12
This is also an answer to the “problem of the commons” the fact that nobody takes responsibility by common goods, if the communities are organized then there will be (besides the Municipal Officials) some institution/association that takes responsibility for those common goods.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 7
The core and most important source of criticism and obstacles to this plan will, as with everything in politics, concern the resources allocation efficiency and witch social groups more Figure 3 - Hit them while they are lying!
benefit from that resource allocation. So real estate promoters
and speculators will not be very happy. Since they will have no role on what is a large market for them (giving loans to by houses), private banks will not be happy. Construction companies will be provided with a market, but since they are involved both with the banks and real-estate speculation some contradictions might arise. But this is the perfect timing to confront these interests since they are frail at the moment, they are seen as responsible of the crisis (and this should be stress as much as possible) and their credibility as seen better days. Moreover their capacity to finance “mega” projects is hindered13, so it’s the time for the State (organized will of society) to step in and correct the distortions in development our previous years economical model as delivered. The car lobby (industry, sellers, gas stations, auto-clubs) will also raise issues, but the car industry is also at one of its weakest points, and its survival is at the mercy of the State. So once again this is the time to bring change. Besides this concentrated interests, a more diffuse source of opposition can come from those who want a parking space in front of their office/store/movie/house... The two main arguments these groups might raise is that this is a very expensive plan, and that hindering car movements in the center will difficult accessibility to that part of the city, isolate it and depress that area even more than today.
13
See Annex 11, that talks about the impact of the crisis in New Shopping malls being constructed.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 8
The “expensive” argument is the easiest to discard; expensive is building a bunch of highways when we are already champions on that field. Expensive is to build a 8 billion euros train to connect us to Madrid. Expensive, and distorting the priorities, is to finance public infrastructure threw private banks that pay higher interests for loans then the state, on top of that the construction risk goes to the privates (that is much more manageable) and the commercial risk goes to the State (demand most of the times is much more unpredictable). Besides that the social, economical and even financial return of a project like this will be much greater than the big white elephants that are looming in the horizon... It is time to invest in the needs of the Citizenry and not on the needs of financial Capital. The increase of accessibility is actually one of the great aims of this plan. Examples of other European cities that adopted similar plans can be shown and for the very young and elderly having less cars in the streets translates into better accessibility up front. Off course for this to hold the Green plan, the Restoring and the mass transit Integration should be done in a coordinated way. In a first stage action could be focused in a particular, decaying area (like Intendente), that can after perform as a show case. This also applies to the parking space particular problem. People will have to make choices, for instance, between better accessibility, fresh air and a nicer city for everyone opposed to more parking space for a few. Don´t fear popular wisdom when playing in a minimally levelled playfield... Discussions should be brought to the ground, and even municipal referendums for more divisive issues can be
Figure 4 - A sight to avoid
considered.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 9
A general advice is to portray opponents of this project as big corporate financial companies, or stooges acting on their behalf, only interested in their particular profit at the expenses of the common good. You won´t be very far from the truth. Still care as to be taken to separate tactical critics and opponents, from strategic ones. The same applies to the allies. Trying to split your opponents is also a very effective tool, and always avoid their ability to assemble a base of support based in a sum off small discontent groups.
Building a Social Base of Support A broad coalition must be mustered to defend and implement this vision. At the core of this coalition we should have the left leaning parties and groups, trade unions, environmental groups, small Figure 5 - The People has many faces.
commerce
associations,
existing
neighbourhoods
committees,
professional associations and other social and cultural associations. It is not easy to assemble them all, three tools can be used: •
Waving a Scare Crow, the fear of some very negative proposal or a particular detested personality can be used to unite this groups;
•
Discussing this strategy as broadly as possible inside this circle, getting an agreement on politics and policies before arguing about positions14;
•
Having a strong charismatic leadership is a sine qua non condition; it’s a key factor in giving confidence to all the players, keeping them together and it helps to rouse the people.
14
This is a argument always used by groups more to the left, the fact is that between statements and reality lies a big gap.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 10
Besides this core coalition the broad Citizenry should be rallied, especially young people that need to be given a chance to Hope for a brighter future. Anyone that is not the owner of a big bank, financial institution, or real estate company should feel a part of this process.
Final Advises Building a more sustainable city is not an easy task, there are many and powerful challenges, but it’s the only way to avoid a “Mad Max” like future, and right now a big opportunity arises since the main opposition to implement this road map is frail. Some key last advices are: •
First, avoid the wrong measures. Stopping new unsustainable projects is already a very big step;
•
Sustainability cannot be seen as a burden, it’s an opportunity to build a better city and brighter future. Some pedagogy about individual behaviour can be made, but people should feel they are making beneficial trade offs when pursuing the aim of a Sustainable city. It´s not just cleaner air, is more and better jobs, better education, more culture, a more intelligent design of space;
•
Keep in touch with the state of the art in this field, other cities and regions already are moving in this way. Many technical solutions are being developed and implemented. Many of these experiences can be “translated”, or be an inspiration to Lisbon.
Last but not least the role of the Mayor of the City, has provider of Leadership, legitimated by the popular vote, is determinant. Intelligence and strategic sapience are needed but also courage and audacity.
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 11
Annex List 1 – News Report small town accessibilities 2 – Tua line derailment 3 – Tamega line closing 4 – Freight study done by RAVEs orders 5 – Small Commerce threatens to Protest 6 – Small Commerce worries 7- News Report shopping malls spreading 8 - News Report shopping malls spreading 9 - News Report shopping malls spreading 10 – Cuba, Sustainability Champion (LOL) 11 – Decline of Shopping Malls
Occupy and Connect, Part II – Francisco Furtado
Page 12