Cabinet wants tighter control of regional public transport
If you live outside the big cities, the cabinet's plans could change how buses, taxis and other local transport are run and how you reach a hospital.
The cabinet wants to counteract the decline of public transport in the regions. The plans combine tighter coordination, links with other forms of transport and pilots with autonomous vehicles.
State Secretary Annet Bertram (CDA) of Infrastructure plans to take stronger control of public transport governance. At present that control lies with regional authorities.
Linking services
The cabinet plans to couple public transport with other forms of transport, such as school transport. Regions already have several alternatives: regional taxis, call buses, neighbourhood buses and car-sharing services. They often operate alongside each other inefficiently.
Bertram is concerned about accessibility in the regions. She wants to improve how easily people can reach hospitals and cultural institutions.
Autonomous vehicles
Pilot programmes with autonomous vehicles are being prepared to address staff shortages in public transport. The reports do not say where the pilots will run or when they will start.
It is also unclear whether Bertram plans a "mobility centre" where all transport requests would be centralised and rider information stored. The reports do not confirm this.