Deliverable D3.3.5: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan … · SWOT analysis ... • Cars and Telematics Equipment ... Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan areas (Romania)

Deliverable D3.3.5: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan areas

(Romania)

Dorin Dumitrescu

February, 2013

Deliverable D3.3.5: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan areas (Romania) 1

PROJECT INFORMATION

Title: Intelligent Transport Systems in South East Europe

Acronym: SEE-ITS

EoI Reference number: SEE/D/0099/3.2/X

Programme: South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme

Starting date: September 28th, 2012

Duration: 24 months

Web site: www.seeits.eu

PROJECT PARTNERS

No Name Short name Country

LP

Centre for Research and Technology Hellas

- Hellenic Institute of Transport CERTH-HIT Greece

ERDF PP1

Patras Municipal Enterprise for Planning and

Development S.A. ADEP S.A. Greece

ERDF PP2

AustriaTech - Federal Agency for

Technological Measures Ltd ATE Austria

ERDF PP3 Hungarian Transport Administration HTA Hungary

ERDF PP4

Bulgarian Association Intelligent Transport

Systems ITS Bulgaria Bulgaria

ERDF PP5 Intelligent Transport Systems Romania ITS Romania Romania

ERDF PP6 University of Ljubljana UL Slovenia

ERDF PP7 Institute for Transport and Logistics Foundation

ITL Italy

EU ASP1 Hellenic Intelligent Transport Systems ITS HELLAS Greece

EU ASP2 ITS Hungary Association ITS Hungary Hungary

20% ASP1 Italian ITS Association TTS Italia Italy

10% PP1 Albanian Association of Urban Transport SHKTQ Albania

10% PP2 Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, University of Zagreb

FPZ Croatia

http://www.seeits.eu/


DOCUMENT PROFILE

Document status: Final version

Deliverable code: D3.3.5

Deliverable title: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan Areas (Romania)

Work Package: 3

Preparation date: 28/02/2013

Submission date: 29/03/2013

Total pages: 15

Dissemination level: Public

Author: Dorin Dumitrescu

Contributors: Alexander Hausmann

Evangelos Mitsakis

Abstract: This report aims at screening EU policies regarding the political and

commercial framework in Romania.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Intelligent Transport Systems can significantly contribute to a cleaner, safer and more efficient

transport system. A legal framework (Directive 2010/40/EU) was adopted by the European

Commission on 7 July 2010 to accelerate the deployment of these innovative transport

technologies across Europe. This Directive is an important instrument for the coordinated

implementation of ITS in Europe. It aims to establish interoperable and seamless ITS services

while leaving Member States the freedom to decide which systems to invest in.

The Directive establishes a framework in support of the coordinated and coherent

deployment and use of Intelligent Transport Systems within the Union, in particular across

the borders between the Member States, and sets out the general conditions necessary for

that purpose. The necessary standards to provide for interoperability, compatibility and

continuity for the deployment and operational use of ITS shall be developed in the mentioned

priority areas and for the priority actions. To that effect, the Commission shall request the

relevant standardisation bodies to make every necessary effort to adopt these standards

rapidly.

This report aims at screening EU policies regarding the political and commercial framework

in the different SEE-ITS countries. A basis for the analysis will be the EU ITS Directive, which

identifies the following priority areas for action regarding ITS services:

• Optimal use of road, traffic and travel data

• Continuity of traffic and freight management ITS services

• ITS road safety and security applications

• Linking the vehicle with the transport infrastructure

There will be one conclusion for all reports of Task 3.3, carried out in a separate document.


CONTENTS

1. Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 6

2. Legal framework ________________________________________________________ 7

2.1. National ITS law ____________________________________________________ 7

2.2. Prohibiting legislative elements _________________________________________ 7

2.3. Influence on commercial and private initiative _____________________________ 8

3. Stakeholders involved ____________________________________________________ 9

3.1. ITS associations _____________________________________________________ 9

4. Policy framework ______________________________________________________ 10

4.1. National ITS action plan _____________________________________________ 10

4.2. Other relevant national policy documents _______________________________ 10

4.2.1. National Architecture for Road ITS in Romania - NARITS (National research project 2005-2008) _____________________________________________________ 10

4.2.2. Decision No. 3556/16.03.2010 of National Company for Motorways and National Roads of Romania _______________________________________________ 10

4.3. Organisational and financial barriers ____________________________________ 11

4.4. Funding __________________________________________________________ 11

4.5. National standards _________________________________________________ 11

4.6. Vulnerable road users _______________________________________________ 11

5. Cooperation aspects ____________________________________________________ 12

5.1. Measures for public awareness ________________________________________ 12

6. SWOT analysis ________________________________________________________ 13

6.1. Strengths _________________________________________________________ 13

6.2. Weaknesses ______________________________________________________ 13

6.3. Opportunities _____________________________________________________ 13

6.4. Threats __________________________________________________________ 13

7. Conclusion and next steps _______________________________________________ 14


ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

EC European Commission

EU European Union

ITS Intelligent Transport Systems

SEE Southeast Europe

SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Vulnerable road users Non-motorised road users (pedestrians, cyclists) as well as

motor-cyclists and persons with disabilities or reduced mobility

and orientation


1. INTRODUCTION

Based upon the information each project partner provided in the questionnaire of Task 3.3,

this report performs a screening of policies in the SEE-ITS countries regarding the political

and commercial framework with respect to the EU ITS Directive and shows influences on the

commercial and private initiative regarding ITS implementation. It analyses instruments and

measures for ITS deployment such as laws, action plans and other policy related documents

as well as possible barriers for successful implementation of ITS applications and services. The

national funding landscape is analysed as well as current possible measures for vulnerable

road users, future European and regional cooperation and measures for public awareness

regarding Intelligent Transport Systems. Ultimately, a SWOT analysis is carried out and based

on it, next steps are evaluated.


2. LEGAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter includes the description of the legal and commercial framework in Romania,

especially focusing on the dedicated ITS law but also on how the legislative framework

corresponds to commercial and private initiatives related to ITS deployment.

2.1. National ITS law

The EU ITS Directive is transposed in national legislation with the Governmental Ordinance

no. 7 /25.02.2012. It maintains the objective and priority areas and transposes the tasks for

periodical reporting and for a national ITS plan at national level. The Ordinance defines a

national ITS Coordinating Committee. The organisation and functioning rules of this

Committee are established and will be promoted as governmental decision.

The Romanian ITS Coordinating Committee is structured as follows:

• Scope: Coordination at national level of actions for ITS Directive implementation and

assurance of a frame for cooperation of authorities with responsibilities in the field of

ITS.

• Members: national and local/regional authorities including:

o Ministry of Transport

o Ministry of Communications and informational Society

o Ministry of Administration and Interior

o Ministry of Research and Education

o Ministry of Economy and Finance

o Ministry of Regional Development

o Agency for Regulations in Communications

o Statistical Institute

o Union of counties councils

o Union of town councils

• Tasks:

o Gathering and submission of information about the implementation status of

the ITS Directive’s priority actions

o Defining the Romanian ITS Action Plan and submitting it for Governmental

approval

o Coordinating the activities of Public Institutions about performing the ITS

Action Plan tasks

2.2. Prohibiting legislative elements

All official documents in Romania related to ITS deployment are binding in case of a change of

the political framework. There are no legislative elements in Romania that would prohibit the

adoption of the EU ITS Directive.


2.3. Influence on commercial and private initiative

There is no dedicated legislative framework for facilitate commercial and private initiative on

ITS implementation in Romania. General legislative and financing framework are applied also

for ITS implementation:

• Regional Operational Programme assure financing in ITS field for small and medium

enterprises

• Private Software developers, including ITS software developers, have the facility not

to pay the tax for salary income


3. STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED

The Ministry of Transport coordinates ITS deployment in Romania at national level and

monitors the implementation of the EU ITS Directive.

• The General Directorate for Strategy coordinates the elaboration of ITS legislation,

the Transport Master Plans and the ITS National Plan.

• The General Directorate for External Financial Relations ensures the financing of ITS

projects by using European funds: cohesion, structural, TEN-T and national budget.

• The Road Directorate ensures the integration of ITS systems into road networks and

relations with transport operators.

The department for huge infrastructure projects assures the financing and construction of

new motorway sections, including intelligent infrastructure as well. The National Company

for Motorways and National Roads of Romania ensure the operation and maintenance of

motorways and the national road network. The Ministry of Transport and the National

Company for Motorways and National are responsible for all national roads and motorways.

At county level, the County Road Administration is responsible for the county road network.

In cities the Street Administration is responsible for street network, including the Traffic

Management Systems

3.1. ITS associations

ITS Romania was set up in March 1999. In 2004 the “Network of National ITS Associations”

was set up, with ITS Romania being founder member. ITS Romania is a non-profit and non-

governmental organisation with the purpose to promote, correlate, to implement and

integrate Intelligent Transport Systems. The correlation at national level and harmonisation at

European level in cooperation with other governmental and private bodies are main tasks.

ITS Romania has two categories of members: juridical persons and individual persons. The

juridical persons are composed in following groups:

• Transport Ways Administrators

• Cars and Telematics Equipment Manufacturers

• Research and Consulting Companies:

• Representatives of the Haulers and Civil Society:

• Universities and Training Centres

ITS Romania performs two kinds of activities:

• Promotion, dissemination and correlation

• Economic activities (studies, research projects at national and European level)

ITS Romania occupies the position of a main promoter and correlator of ITS deployment in

Romania. It is also the main adviser of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of

Communications and Informational Society and the National Company for Motorways and

National Roads of Romania.


4. POLICY FRAMEWORK

This chapter focuses on the instruments that are utilised in Romania to implement or facilitate

the implementation of ITS. It also includes national funding programmes and standards used.

Furthermore possible barriers as well as measures for vulnerable road users are emphasised.

4.1. National ITS action plan

The national ITS plan is planned to be realised in 2014. A request for financing is prepared

and actions for budget approval are committed. The term of references are established

including the key tasks:

• Context and current situation of ITS in Romania

• ITS needs, options and priorities

• ITS implementation framework

• ITS Action Plan

• Monitoring the implementation and future maintenance of the RO-ITS-Strategic

Action Plan

4.2. Other relevant national policy documents

4.2.1. National Architecture for Road ITS in Romania - NARITS (National research project 2005-2008)

• Consortium:

o POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest – Transport Telematics Research

Centre

o Institute for Information Systems and Automation [SIAT]

o ITS Romania

o SEARCH Corporation

o Institute for Computing Sciences [ITC]

• Results:

o studies, software tools for ITS Architecture development and demonstrator;

o A national research/consultative platform on ITS Architecture based on

NARITS consortium;

o Definition of main components of ITS Architecture (functional/logical,

physical, organisational, communicational and safety and security related

components) for a Romanian (national) Intelligent Transport System.

4.2.2. Decision No. 3556/16.03.2010 of National Company for Motorways and National Roads of Romania


This document defines the minimum set of ITS Services for all new motorway sectors.

Intelligent infrastructure will be part of road infrastructure and will be developed during the

construction phase. The requirements and specifications will be based on ITS Deployment

Guidelines – EasyWay.

4.3. Organisational and financial barriers

In urban and interurban areas ITS systems are tested, put in operation and maintained by

road administrations. The staff has experience in ‘Built” infrastructure. The tasks of

implementation, operation and maintenance of intelligent infrastructure are relatively new for

them. So there is a difficulty in understanding the life cycle of ITS regarding proper operation

and maintenance. For public road administrations the main priority is to build and maintain

the roads. In the conditions of reduced budget on national and local level, ITS applications and

services are primarily affected.

4.4. Funding

There are no dedicated ITS funding programmes in Romania.

4.5. National standards

As general requirements the ITS Deployment Guidelines of EasyWay are mandatory used on

motorways.

4.6. Vulnerable road users

Measures for vulnerable road users are have so far been adopted only in research or pilot

projects.


5. COOPERATION ASPECTS

This chapter concentrates on cooperation agreements of Romania in the course of ITS

implementation (joint research, data exchange, co-financing, etc.) at regional and European

level, but also on measures undertaken for public awareness. In Romania the following has

been carried out so far:

• Data exchange, common ITS vision in the frame of “Network of National ITS

Associations”

• Cooperation in European projects: EasyWay I, EasyWay II, HeERO, In-time,

COOPERS …

5.1. Measures for public awareness

The main actions for public awareness in Romania comprise eSafety applications. There is an

awareness campaign on safety and eSafety organised by the inter-ministerial Council for Road

Safety. Private awareness actions include fleet management, Navigation and Traffic

information. Special attention is brought to presenting the harmonisation of national ITS

deployment at European level.


6. SWOT ANALYSIS

In this chapter the results of a SWOT analysis of the ITS actions in Romania at policy,

legislative and organisational levels are presented.

6.1. Strengths

• There is strong ITS community in Romania that has a good communication base

inside the European Union.

• The Romanian Ministry of Transport clearly commits to ITS implementation.

6.2. Weaknesses

• The continuity of ITS implementation is not guaranteed. The level of implementation

and funding depends on the experience of decision makers (governmental, state

companies and local level).

• The frequent change of decision makers will probably affect the continuity and quality

of ITS implementation.

6.3. Opportunities

• European ITS suppliers are strongly interested in the Romanian market.

6.4. Threats

• The ITS Directive represents only a framework and is not a mandatory document for

ITS implementation.


7. CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS

Based on the SWOT analysis, this chapter contains possible options for improving the process

of ITS deployment in Romania.

However the EU ITS Directive only represents a framework the Romanian approach to

adopt it seems quite prudent and structured. The strong ITS community and the Ministry of

Transport distinctly committing to the implementation of ITS services and applications clearly

have a favourable effect on ITS deployment in Romania. There is a dedicated ITS coordinating

committee in Romania, which could assure the correlation of governmental actions at national

level. Yet there are six different ministries involved in it which could be seen as a negative

aspect with regards to organisational difficulties, mainly in funding ITS services or intelligent

infrastructure. But it could also turn out to be an advantage since the respective

responsibilities are structured distinctly. So to make sure it is an advantage indeed, it is

important that tasks are being allocated unambiguously from the beginning and each party

respecting that. Another positive aspect is county and town councils also being involved into

this committee which will probably positively affect regional ITS deployment and

interoperability. In the near future the administrative reorganisation of the regions will

prioritise transport network and logistics in the regional development as well as co-modal

intelligent infrastructure and ITS services as one of the main tools to assure a safe, efficient

and “clean” transport process.

When it comes to road infrastructure there already is an integrative approach to ITS

deployment. A governmental decision defines a minimum level of service for Intelligent

Transport Systems on new motorway sections. ITS are a part of road infrastructure and will

be developed during the construction phase. However the policy for ITS deployment on road

infrastructure seems very structured interfaces with Public Transport and solutions for a

multimodal mobility approach should not be neglected. Otherwise Romania could be facing

difficulties in road transport in the near future because of a growing level of motorisation that

leads to congested roads and environmental problems.

With ITS Romania being a non-governmental and non-profit organisation and moreover

occupying an advisory function for the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Communications

and Informational Society and the National Company for Motorways and National Roads of

Romania, it has the possibility to act as a national conciliation actor. It could assure an

independent and credible frame of debate for governmental and commercial partners. ITS

Romania launches the initiative for creation an official partnership with ministries and regional

councils

However there is neither an ITS funding landscape in Romania nor a dedicated legislative

framework that would facilitate commercial and private initiative on ITS deployment there is

a Regional Operational Programme that finances small and medium enterprises developing

ITS services and applications. Furthermore private software developers, which also includes


programmers working in the field of ITS, are provided with tax advantages. On a large scale

the department for huge infrastructure projects ensures the financing and construction of

new motorway sections, including intelligent infrastructure.

These are undoubtedly important initiatives but also should be regarded as first steps in

building up a dedicated funding landscape for Intelligent Transport Systems.

In Romania there apparently has been initial recognition of the importance of public

awareness for Intelligent Transport Systems however promotional activities seem to focus on

single use cases like eSafety, Navigation and fleet management instead of promoting the term

ITS in general and all the services and applications it comprises. Users have to realise the

advantageous impacts that ITS can have on their everyday mobility. Consequently user

demand for ITS applications and services will raise and require increased political

commitment. But if users want something, they do not need to be convinced of it which

leaves more room for policy discretion. It will become easier to adopt measures in the field of

ITS which will create a generally positive atmosphere among decision makers and thus

facilitate the continuity and quality of ITS deployment. Romania is in the emerging phase of

implementation of interoperable ITS services, having skilled human resources for different

activities: R&D, innovation, small and large scale implementation, evaluation, maintenance and

rehabilitation.

Documents

Deliverable D3.3.5: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan … · SWOT analysis ... • Cars and Telematics Equipment ... Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan areas (Romania)