Via Baltica

Via Baltica is one of the most important instruments for the implementation of EU transport policy regarding territorial cohesion and connectivity of peripheral regions. Via Baltica remains a significant communication and tourism spot and at the same time a stimulator of economic growth in the participating countries and in the Baltic region.

The Baltic States and the Republic of Poland need to create smart, alternative fuels driven in the South-North Corridor. According to the Memorandum of Understanding towards a harmonized ITS deployment in the Baltic Region (signed on 4 July 2014 by three Baltic States and the Republic of Poland), Via Baltica is considered to become a smart road.

After having invested constantly into ITS and traffic management solutions, and now well into the development of alternative fuels (AF) infrastructure, the Republics of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have a big potential to become frontrunners in the TEN-T corridors alternative fuels and ITS innovative flagship projects initiative.

Focus on alternative fuels infrastructure can also help accelerate related areas, such as exchange of real-time data about the infrastructure and traffic situation along the corridors for users. Our key goal is to develop a service enabling smooth traffic from Warsaw to Tallinn by alternatively fuelled vehicles, which can also provide real-time information on alternative fuels and traffic situation.

• Example: an electric vehicle from Warsaw should be able to travel all the way to Tallinn, using charging points on the road and making use of real-time information about the availability of this infrastructure as well as traffic and weather conditions.

Smooth circulation of alternatively fuelled vehicles requires adequate and real-time information for the drivers about the availability of relevant refuelling stations and EV charging points on their route, namely:

• Geographical location;
• Real-time accessibility (in particular for EVs);
• Other accessibility conditions (pricing, access conditions etc.);

Normally, geographical location should not be difficult to provide. However, real-time data may require some additional equipment. Although the Directive 2012/49 requires this data to be open, this layer would help involved Member States to make more use of it, namely by bringing it all together, in an interoperable format, for the use of a specific corridor. This is also mandated by EU regulation 2017/1926.

The key goal – development and usage of a single data exchange protocol, to ensure interoperability.

Additional information for road users also needed. This may consist of (where available): -additional services at the fuel station (or close to recharging point), such as catering, WCs, showers, parking space, etc. It can also include access conditions, such as pricing; -safe and secure parking places for trucks, their availability and access conditions; -roadworks; -real-time info about accidents; -real-time info on weather conditions; -road signs, including variable information signs; -other real-time traffic information;

Real-time traffic information for AF drivers is necessary for better calculation of time in order to access the fuel station. For other users, this is the key to safety and better management of their travel time (in particular, for international heavy goods transport Baltic States have already a very good record of cooperation in this area, mainly because the agreements on the level of road administration already ensure the exchange of real-time data on some of the areas above.

The key goal – bring this cooperation to another level, making the exchange of data systematic, mainly through development and usage of a single data exchange protocol.

Implementing entity in Republic of Estonia - Estonian Road Administration under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

Promoter, beneficiary - Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.