The Smart Cities theme is becoming more and more central. “And on this Padua is accelerating a lot,” says the mayor, Sergio Giordani.
What are the featured projects?
«Covid has made us understand how important it is to work on this type of innovation. We have several plans in the pipeline. For example, we are making a big effort on mobility: we are in the process of starting a second tram line and we are about to present to the government the project for a third line for 325 million in funding. The goal is to ensure that the whole city is crossed by these vehicles which will be electric with connections also with external municipalities. The works will have to be carried out by 2026. We are confident and think we will certainly succeed in our aim. In this way Padua will be connected in all its points. We have also strengthened the electric bicycle network and soon a thousand scooters will arrive in the city. In addition we are also working on an extension of the cycle paths ».
What will all this mean for the Paduans?
“Their lives will change for the better. The number of people involved is very high: forecasts say that these new lines will carry 20 million passengers a year. The city will change dramatically. Both with respect to the environment and with regard to comfort and advantages: travel times will be significantly shortened. The benefits will also affect the air you breathe in the city. Unfortunately the Padua area is located in a poorly ventilated area. This is why it is important to look at more efficient and above all green public transport ”.
Is sensitivity towards Smart Cities increasing? “
“Until a year ago, people just wanted security. Now in Padua, according to a recent survey, people want attention for the environment and for air quality. The question we carried out involved all age groups, from the youngest to the seniors: the theme is felt ».
There is not only mobility between your projects
“We are trying to change the city for the better in many ways. There is, for example, the problem of paper archives. This is why we will launch a 2.5 million euro plan to digitize all the materials of the Municipality ». S.R.