GIS-based online tool to facilitate feedback from and communication with local stakeholders (including citizens) on public transport system. Ecosystems Urban Implementation Spatial planning Methods Mapping/GIS Topics Policy Uses of this product The different needs of road infrastructure users lead to diverse opinions and suggestions on possible improvements. However, in most of the cities, there is no user-friendly ICT system established for expressing these issues. In addition, quite often citizens are not aware of these problems and the relevance that their opinion and knowledge has to local authorities, at the same time local knowledge still plays an underestimated role in terms of policy development and decision-making processes. Additional information WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED? FACILITATORY (PUBLIC) BODIES: traffic department; planning and development department; policy development department; IT department; community development department LOCAL TASK FORCE: professional expert; community group; local or regional authority SUITABLE FOR: urban region; (sub-)urban communities MAIN NECESSARY RESOURCES ARE: monetary investments; local knowledge; expert knowledge; community trust; personnel time; public institutional set-up Constraints Cities (and especially Eastern European ones) are faced with different traffic-related issues such as fast growing traffic, unequal spatial development, and financing of road infrastructure. For this kind of problems, there is rarely one or "the single best" solution. Furthermore, detailed local knowledge is necessary to find a good (efficient) starting point (carrying capacity, education, and knowledge, traffic management, quality of roads) for improving the traffic situation. Advantages In order to collect opinions and suggestions an information gathering system has been developed, which provides the "missing link" between different stakeholders and levels of governance in a city. Thus, inhabitants have the opportunity to express themselves in a user-friendly format and in a clear and explicit manner. On the other hand, local authorities or an already established "expert group" receive the information and evaluate all suggestions on a regular and professional basis, deciding on the most relevant ones to be implemented. In this context, the incorporation of citizens in the policy cycle not only leads to rising awareness but also to identifying concrete problems and potential pilot projects.Main outcomes: process innovation, knowledge/data, stakeholder integration, community empowerment. Links TURAS tool webpageGIS 4 public video Contact details TURAS Expert contact: Robert Rijavec
