It's All About (Regional) Cooperation!
In an insightful interview, Mayor Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk shares the challenges and triumphs encountered during the SUMP development for the City of Czestochowa, the ambitious goals set for the sub-region, and the significant strides made in infrastructure and cooperation.
An interview with Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk elaborated by Maciej Hasik and Alessia Giorgiutti.
Czestochowa, a city with district rights in southern Poland’s Silesian Voivodeship, has a population of approximately 200,000 and serves as the central hub for the Northern Subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship, which encompasses three counties and Czestochowa itself, with a total population nearing half a million. As an urban node within the TEN-T network, Czestochowa has emerged as a natural leader in developing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) for the entire sub-region.
The preparation of the SUMP was a significant undertaking, spanning over two years and involving extensive consultations with the sub-region's residents. The work was completed in November 2023, with the adoption process extending until mid-January 2024. The SUMP was developed following the European recommendations for such plans.
Maciej Hasik: What was the biggest challenge during the work on the SUMP?
Matyjaszczyk on site in Czestochowa
Maciej Hasik
Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk: Before we started working on the SUMP, the biggest challenge was convincing all the representatives of the municipalities to embrace the idea of creating a joint document aimed at improving the quality of movement for residents across the sub-region, beyond political divisions.
Once we achieved consensus on the importance of jointly preparing the SUMP, we devoted a great deal of energy to considering the needs and concerns of as many residents as possible regarding mobility. We used every available means of communication, including online surveys, direct and indirect interviews, telephone interviews, and meetings with residents. This comprehensive approach allowed us to gather over 15,000 responses from the sub-region's residents — three times the number typically expected for such a large survey sample.
Hasik: What goals were set for the Subregion?
Matyjaszczyk: It was a complicated process, but to summarise — the goals were formulated based on residents' feedback and thorough analyses using the sub-region’s traffic model, along with environmental considerations. The main goals outlined in the document include:
- Creating an integrated and efficient transport system;
- Reducing the negative impact of transport on the environment, climate, and people;
- Effectively managing sustainable mobility.
To achieve these goals, we developed a scenario for an integrated transport system, seeking to unify the transport network across the sub-region. This scenario guides infrastructure planning to improve mobility and safety for residents while respecting environmental concerns. To put it another way, each local government is now evaluating its investments through the lens of this development scenario, ensuring alignment with the SUMP concept for our region.
Hasik: Have you been able to hand over investments that are part of the SUMP?
Matyjaszczyk: Yes, even before we began developing the SUMP, we were already in the process of carrying out two strategic investments for the City of Czestochowa, and we made sure that their nature was strongly oriented towards the SUMP’s goals. These projects are the reconstruction of DK-91 on the north-south axis and the reconstruction of DK-46 on the western side of Czestochowa. These roads aim to divert traffic away from the city centre and enhance mobility between municipalities in the sub-region, including improvements for public transport.
I mention these projects to point out that our Subregion needs to keep investing in its road infrastructure. It may be a bit surprising to those in Western Europe, but our country still lacks sufficient infrastructure, and we are working to address it in a sustainable way. The recently developed and adopted SUMP is a significant step forward, which I hope will significantly improve the quality of life for our residents.
Hasik: Thanks to the aforementioned strategic constructions, along with several other local projects, Czestochowa now has over 100 kilometres of bicycle roads available to residents. How do you feel about this achievement?
Matyjaszczyk: A decade ago, the total length of bicycle roads was less than half of what it is now. This makes me all the more pleased that we have now surpassed 100 kilometres — ever more satisfying is that our network of bicycle paths is becoming increasingly cohesive, with fewer gaps across the city. In addition, the City, thanks to these strategic road investments, has benefited from new, safe connections for cycling to neighbouring municipalities.
Hasik: The good news for cyclists does not end there, as the SUMP includes plans for new bicycle connections that will create a cohesive network of routes throughout the sub-region. Can you elaborate on this?
Matyjaszczyk: Yes, we are planning three major investments that will enhance cycling across the sub-region. The designed bicycle routes will total 230 kilometres in the Northern Subregion and will extend into neighbouring regions, forming a coherent bicycle network.
Matyjaszczyk on site in Czestochowa
Maciej Hasik
Hasik: What provisions are there for transfer centres?
Matyjaszczyk: The SUMP includes a provision for the construction of 15 transfer centres, the construction of which is consistent with the planned bicycle routes and an attractive public transport offer, providing a viable alternative to personal car use.
Hasik: What are your conclusions regarding subregional cooperation?
Matyjaszczyk: At present, each municipality in the sub-region considers the SUMP in virtually every investment related to the movement of the population. This approach fosters closer cooperation between municipalities and, hopefully, will soon lead to the establishment of an institution to oversee the consistency of investment plans across the sub-region.
We are now entering the stage of bringing about the achievement of the goals set out in the SUMP, and everyone is committed to this effort. While the journey will not be easy, I see a strong willingness to learn from past mistakes and draw lessons for the future. The SUMP is certainly not the answer to all the problems our residents face, but it is a significant step towards better, more efficient mobility for everyone.
Click here to read the article in its original format.
About the contributors:
Interviewee: Krzysztof Matyjaszczyk has served as the Mayor of Czestochowa since 2010. He is activist of local government and the leader of the northern Subregion of Silesian Voivodeship. During his time as Mayor, Krzysztof has focused on the development of road and communications infrastructure, as well attracting new investors to the city to create well-paying jobs for local and regional residents.
Interviewer: Maciej Hasik has served as a Press Officer of the Czestochowa Municipal Road Administration since 2015. His main duties are to represent the Municipal Road Administration in the media, create social media profiles, and cooperate in making promotional articles, photos, and videos.
Alessia Giorgiutti coordinates POLIS' corporate communications and magazine and has been involved in several EU-funded projects as a Communications Manager. She currently supports other managers and officers on tasks related to content production and communication for their projects. Her work focuses on making accessible and inclusive content about transport, as well as highlighting the experiences of marginalised users.
