From Mola di Bari, the CROSS-MOVE project launches a new Adriatic partnership to rethink mobility in small and medium municipalities

Interreg CROSS-MOVE has been launched last week in Mola di Bari, during the kick-off meeting hosted by the Municipality of Mola di Bari, Project Lead partner.

The CROSS-MOVE project is the acronym of Cross-border sustainable urban mobility efforts in the South Adriatic area” and its main aim is to promote smart urban mobility, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized municipalities.  The project is the result of cooperation among the Municipality of Mola di Bari (Italy-Puglia) Lead Partner, the Municipality of Korça (Albania), the Municipality of Bojano (Italy- Molise), and the Limited Liability Company “Komunalno/Komunale” of Tuzi (Montenegro). 

The project supports the development and updating of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in the partner territories, supporting both the revision of existing plans and the introduction of SUMPs where they are not yet in place. These strategic tools, designed to help local authorities develop integrated, efficient, and environmentally friendly transport systems, are particularly important for small and medium sized territorial contexts, which often face limited financial and technical resources, fragmented transport systems, and increasing pressure to improve accessibility and sustainability.  

One of the concrete project actions foresees the introduction of electric vehicles for public transport in Bojano and Tuzi, the installation of smart traffic management systems in Korça, and targeted interventions to improve road safety in Mola di Bari.  All these diverse actions will be tested in order to build a catalogue of best practices and innovative solutions that can be replicated and adapted in different contexts, including beyond the Programme area.

A key expected result of the project is the definition of the foundations for a transnational SUMP for the South Adriatic area, fostering stronger coordination among participating territories and contributing to more integrated mobility systems at a wider scale. 

With a duration of 30 months and a budget of € 919.554,90, CROSS-MOVE clearly demonstrates that common challenges require joint, coordinated actions. It represents just the starting point for promoting greener, smarter, and more connected territories, reinforcing cross-border cooperation as a key driver for sustainable development in the South Adriatic region.