Via Baltica

Road is part of TEN-T core road network (TEN-T Regulation 1315/2013 Partly financed from Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Regulation 1316/2013 Modernisation works ongoing according to the Public procurement directive.

To ensure a smooth goods and passenger mobility in the road transport, a sufficient engineering level of infrastructure must be achieved and maintained accordingly to the criteria of speed, traffic safety and comfort as defined in the TEN-T development guidelines. In the light of these guidelines, the Republic of Lithuanian road transport network lacks ITS solutions, cargo terminals and logistic centres, points of their connection with other transport modes in TEN-T, and equipment for the infrastructure maintenance and status control (truck weighing equipment etc.

Road traffic safety is in the focus of attention in TEN-T development guidelines. However, Republic of Lithuania still lacks modern traffic safety facilities and ITS solutions, part of the roads do not meet the requirements set for expressways and motorways including the axle weight and environmental protection requirements, and some cities do not have by-pass roads. Modernisation of TEN-T roads and their access roads must be continued in order to ensure compliance with the main provisions on safe and smooth transport set out in the TEN-T guidelines.

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, tourism and at the same time a stimulator of economic growth in the participating countries and Baltic region

Baltic States and Republic of Poland need to create smart, alternative fuels driven South-North Corridor. According to the Memorandum of Understanding towards harmonized ITS deployment in the Baltic Region (signed on 4 July 2014 by three Baltic States and 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 Republic of Poland, Republic of Lithuania, Republic of Latvia and Republic of 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.);

Geographical location normally should not be difficult to provide. However, real-time data may require some additional equipment, which is not required under current EU directives. 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.

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 their 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 for accessing 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 administrations 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 Lithuania - Lithuanian Road Administration under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
• Promoter, beneficiary - Ministry of Transport and Communications.