The Transportation Master Plan, which has been working for 2 years by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Department, has been completed. Within the scope of the Master Plan, which was introduced at the information meeting held; The short and long-term improvements to be made in Mersin transportation and the works planned to ease transportation were explained. One of the most important features of the Master Plan is that, in addition to the 4 central districts, in-depth studies have been carried out for the districts of Tarsus, Erdemli and Silifke, based on urban density.
Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Tarık İrde, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Advisor İbrahim Evrim, Transportation Department Head Ersan Topçuoğlu, and representatives of public institutions and non-governmental organizations attended the introductory meeting held at MESKİ Meeting Hall.
Important topics for transportation were studied one by one
Within the scope of the meeting, Transportation Master Plan Project Manager Yücel Erdem Dışli made a presentation. In the Transportation Master Plan, which is based on the demands, trends, transportation movements and habits of the people of Mersin; preparation of the feasibility report for the rail system, preparation of 44 kilometers of 3-stage rail system preliminary projects, public transport line optimization, preparation of preliminary projects of 15 bridge junctions, physical examination of 193 junctions and making the necessary arrangements, preparation of the rubber tire public transport system rehabilitation action plan, There are topics such as determining parking needs and construction.
Among the targets and strategies determined in the Transportation Master Plan; reducing dependence on automobiles, promoting non-motorized transportation, developing a fast and high-capacity public transportation network, meeting the need for access, monitoring disabled people in transportation, integrating the transportation plan with land use decisions, institutionalizing the integrated structure, holistic planning and management of transportation, protecting public health and safety, These include protecting the environment, supporting economic development, and providing low-cost and efficient services. The Transportation Master Plan, which was introduced to the city stakeholders and sent to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, will be submitted to the approval of the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Council following the UKOME Decision.
İrde: “Your opinions and suggestions are very valuable to us”
Speaking at the meeting, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Tarık İrde said, “Your opinions and suggestions are very valuable to us. "For this purpose, we invited you here today," he said.
Topçuoğlu: “A sustainable and environmentally friendly plan that plans the future in transportation”
Head of Transportation Department Ersan Topçuoğlu also noted that they consulted with many institutions, chambers and NGOs throughout the Master Plan study period. Stating that they revised the studies due to the increase in population and traffic density in Mersin due to the earthquake that occurred in February 2023, Topçuoğlu said, “There is a document that plans the future of Mersin in transportation and determines the investment programs, which we can call sustainable, environmentally friendly and economic. It is as important to prepare this document correctly as to implement it in the most correct way in our city. That's why we invited you here. Because, within the scope of this plan, all our institutions have duties and activities," he said.
“We determined the demands, trends, transportation movements and habits of Mersin residents.”
Stating that they worked on the plan for 2 years, Topçuoğlu said, "In addition to the 4 central districts, Tarsus, Erdemli and Silifke districts were added to the Transportation Master Master Plan, which was designed by our expert staff by examining the innovations and systems in transportation. In order to solve the transportation problem, which is one of the most important problems of Mersin, we determined the relevant demands, trends, transportation movements and habits of the people of Mersin. "We looked for answers to transportation-related questions such as household information about transportation, problems experienced in transportation, time spent in transportation, wages, and household vehicle ownership," he said.
After the speeches and presentation, participants' questions were answered.