RIGA, March 17 (LETA) - The planned mobility hubs are a tool with significant added value for regional development, Transport Minister Atis Svinka (Progressives) told LETA.

The minister notes that the Station 2.0 concept - or mobility hubs - envisages locations where trains, buses, private cars, and micromobility converge in one place, featuring parking for private cars, electric charging stations, and guaranteed accessibility. Svinka is pleased that local governments have shown great interest in establishing mobility hubs.

Under the European Union (EU) Cohesion Policy Program for 2021-2027, a total of more than EUR 75 million is available to local governments for the implementation of the mobility hub, or Station 2.0, concept.

In the first round of project selection, nine projects received EU funding - eight in Riga and one in Cesis -while in the second round, the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFLA) received 59 project applications. In the second round, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding available to municipalities is EUR 52.6 million, while the requested funding exceeds EUR 83 million.

The funding available to local governments allows them to be flexible and develop solutions tailored to the specific location and residents’ needs. It is planned that by the end of 2029, 25 mobility hubs will be established in Latvia with ERDF investments, promoting residents’ mobility throughout the country.

In total, 17 mobility hubs are already being developed in Latvian municipalities with investments from the Recovery Fund and the ERDF, which Svinka views as a good start. At the same time, the minister notes that to promote mobility in the regions, it is important for public transit transfer points- or mobility hubs -to be located throughout the country.

Svinka emphasizes that municipalities are the primary implementers of mobility hubs - they know their residents’ needs best- whether a Park & Ride parking lot is needed, the construction of bike paths, or whether access to regional buses or urban public transport needs to be provided.

The minister also stresses that it is important to recognize that this is not just about building infrastructure - it is an investment in improving mobility, regional viability, job availability, and strengthening business competitiveness. Public transit transfer hubs provide residents with greater mobility. By using public transit, people have the freedom to choose where to work, study, and live, while maintaining convenient connections to national and municipal centers.

When creating mobility hubs, it is essential to ensure accessibility for everyone, Svinka emphasizes. Public transport transfer hubs are planned to be built in a way that is friendly to people with mobility impairments, seniors, and parents with strollers.

The development of mobility hubs is taking place alongside railway modernization, the introduction of new electric trains, and the launch of the zero-emission (BEMU) train project. The minister emphasizes that now is the right time for local governments to synchronize their projects with the state’s planned work and achieve maximum impact.