ITS Network Meetings in Poland, 24–25 November 2011

Creation date: 15 December 2011

The Network of National ITS Associations were recently warmly welcomed by ITS Polska for two days of stimulating presentations and discussions. The meeting, which took place on the Warsaw - Stryków - Łódź – Warsaw route, was organised by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways and ITS POLSKA, with expertise support provided by the Polish Association of Transport Telematics.

33 participants took part in the two-day event, including 21 representatives of Europe’s national associations and 12 representatives of Polish local government institutions, and of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways and ITS POLSKA.   

On the first day participants were welcomed by Marek Litwin, president of ITS POLSKA, at the Folk Gospoda Restaurant in Warsaw. Lunch was followed by the Network workshop comprising “a university on wheels” where a series of presentations were given during the coach transfer from Warsaw to Łódź. Participants learnt about the intelligent transportation systems implemented in Wrocław, Poznań’s city traffic management system, under development as part of the city’s preparation for the Euro 2012 football event, the technological, practical, safety and security aspects of tunnels based on the example of a tunnel in the village of Laliki and the practical, safety and security aspects of the traffic management centre in Stryków.

The coach stopped for a technical visit during which the attendees could see Poland’s first Motorway Management Centre, in Stryków, built in accordance with the best European standards using TMC (Traffic Message Channel) technology and currently monitoring the traffic on the Stryków-Konin section of the A2 motorway.

The workshop was followed by a Networking dinner at the Gęsi Puch Restaurant in Łódź, with guests including representatives of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways. During the supper, Andrzej Maciejewski, director of GDDKiA, and Marek Litwin, president of ITS POLSKA, signed an agreement on their cooperation in developing Technical Specifications to systematise and standardise the process of preparing and implementing infrastructure projects involving the use of intelligent transportation systems.

The Network Plenary meeting on the second day, was held at the Factory Museum at Łódź’s Manufaktura Centre in the setting of a former textile factory. Twelve National ITS Associations and ITS Lithuania as an observer, discussed the latest issues including the Network involvement in Congresses such as the upcoming ITS World Congress in Vienna and future national activities as well as current projects with Network involvement. In addition, Mr Meyer, CEO of ERTICO presented a number of ERTICO initiatives and opportunities for closer collaboration. Members also voted for two new people to join the Network Coordination Committee following the stepping down of Olga Landolfi and Roman Srp who have made such a valuable contribution over the years to the coordination of the Network. New members chosen were Florin Nemtanu, ITS Romania and Rui Camolino, ITS Portugal. The meeting closed with a tour of the factory and lunch before heading back to Warsaw.