2012 Catalan Transportation Seminar

Governor Dukakis welcomes Ambassador Solomont (far left) and President Mas (center)

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On June 20th, the WCCP hosted a special seminar focused on the Catalan model of infrastructure and public transport. The key speakers were the Honorable Artur Mas, President of the Government of Catalonia, Alan Solomont, Ambassador of the United States to Spain and Andorra, and Governor Michael Dukakis, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University. The seminar was instrumental in advancing the discussion on issues of sustainable mobility in urban areas, namely the Barcelona Metropolitan area, and public transportation financing. The goals of the day were to examine the outcomes of the expansion of Barcelona’s TMB, analyze the effects it has had on land use in the city, and to look into the potential for public-private investment strategies for developments in public transportation in the future.

The seminar was also composed of two discussion and presentation sections, one on sustainable mobility in Barcelona and moderated by Mayor Joe Curtatone of Somerville, Massachusetts, and the other on the organization and financing of public transportation infrastructure moderated by Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey.

This podcast from the Jeff Santos Show (AM 1510 Revolution Boston) covered the day’s proceedings:

For any Catalan speakers, the day was also covered by Telenotícies on TV3, Televisió de Catalunya on June 20th. The pieces covers President Mas’ visit, the seminar, and the relationship between Catalonia and Boston. The piece runs from 15:10 to 17:40: http://www.tv3.cat/3alacarta/#/videos/4140530

Here is Infrastructure.cat’s (The Public Infrastructure Management Agency of Catalonia) video presentation on the development of Catalonia’s new L9 and L10 rail systems: