Public Transport in Transnational Peripheral Areas: Challenges and Opportunities

In transport planning, the connection between peripheral and urban areas is a complex issue to be dealt with. Difficulties are even exacerbated when the trans-regional and transnational scales are considered. However, transnational commuting is an increasing phenomenon and regional policy makers should be able to face it adequately. This paper describes the main issues related to this topic and highlights some possible solutions. Then, it presents the condition of the Italian autonomous province of South Tyrol. This territory, at the border with Austria and Switzerland, is known for its well-developed public transport system, supported by an adequate infomobility and integrated tariff scheme. This grants a use of public transport per person that is among the highest at the national level. Despite this, some difficulties are still visible when the transregional and transnational scales are considered. A specific SWOT analysis illustrates the main aspects that still need to be addressed. The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation can be the institutional body able to promote a better integration of the mobility among peripheral and urban areas in transboundary contexts.