The CROSSCONNECT project has started, the aim of which is to improve Adriatic connectivity through sustainable multimodal solutions. The CROSSCONNECT project, implemented by Dubrovnik Airport as a leading partner, officially began with a successful kick-off meeting held on April 18, 2024 in Dubrovnik. This meeting brought together all project partners, enabling detailed discussions and strategic planning for upcoming project activities.
CROSSCONNECT, “Cross-border Coordinated Sea-Land Approach Interconnecting Ports of the Adriatic Sea with Airports and Urban Areas”, was financed from the Interreg Italy-Croatia Cross-Border Cooperation Program, especially within the framework of the Standard Call for Project Proposals, Specific Objective 3.1. is aimed at developing and improving sustainable, climate-resilient, intelligent and intermodal mobility, including improved access to the TEN-T and cross-border mobility. With a total budget of €2,088,780.00 (ERDF €1,671,024 and co-financing €417,756.00), the project started on 1 March 2024, and will end on 30 April 2026.
During 26 months, the CROSSCONNECT consortium, consisting of 4 Italian and 4 Croatian partners from 4 different metropolitan areas (Venice, Pula, Dubrovnik and Bari-Brindisi), will cooperate in achieving the project’s goals. The project partners are:
- 4 port authorities (Port Authority of the Northern Adriatic – Ports of Venice and Chioggia, Port Authority of the Southern Adriatic – Ports of Bari, Brindisi, Manfredonia, Barletta and Monopoli, Port Authority of Dubrovnik, Port Authority of Pula),
- 2 airports (Dubrovnik Airport, SAVE S.p.A.),
- 2 city public transport companies (GPP Brindisi S.p.A., Pula promet)
- 2 associated partners (Port of Rijeka and Port of Ancona).
The overarching goal of CROSSCONNECT is to develop a multimodal coordinated sea-land approach based on sustainable and technologically advanced solutions. These solutions will connect Croatian and Italian ports with urban areas and airports, which will improve passenger mobility. The project aims to capitalize on available solutions and know-how, gathering knowledge from previous experiences and applying it to the interconnection of ports, airports and urban areas in a comprehensive approach. This includes innovative and sustainable ICT-based solutions, addressing a key gap in strategic transport planning in the Adriatic region.
“Dubrovnik Airport is pleased to lead this extremely important project because it is leading innovative and sustainable solutions in intermodal transport, encouraging cooperation among key stakeholders to improve connectivity and mobility in the Adriatic region,” said Josip Paljetak, project manager from Dubrovnik Airport.
