Applying accessibility tools to address urban and transport planning. The case of the Eurocity of Valença-Tui and the Euroregion of Galicia-Norte de Portugal

The European project COST Action TU 1002 “Accessibility instruments for the planning practice” (hence, the Action) has been developed by a network of researchers from 21 European countries and also from Australia, with a balanced group of senior and younger experts in urban and transport planning. This blend of generations has achieved a remarkable transmission of knowledge and know-how among researchers, not only on the topics of the project but also on the scientific process that underlies international research. Within the Action, an active and dynamic group of young and early career researchers has emerged. After setting up their own network they have developed their own scientific agenda, closely linked to the Action’s goals. This book is an obvious outcome of their endeavours. The Network of Junior Researchers (JRN) has held, in the course of the Action, a series of summer training schools (STS) devoted to different aspects of the Action’s research, with scientific programmes that match both the Action and the JRN research agendas. In 2012, the JRN met in Naples, Italy, for a mock test of the methodologies developed within the Action, with successful results that were acknowledged by the senior members of the Action and that have provided valuable inputs to the development of the main research. In 2013, the JRN met again to address a new emerging topic in European planning policies: European cross border cities and regions. The Portuguese and Spanish case of the new Eurocity of Valença-Tui was selected. As coordinators of the JRN activities, we were challenged to organise a STS that would focus on the case study by analysing how the methodologies and instruments of the Action could help planning processes in this new international context. The members of the JRN were asked to address the relevant planning issues of the Eurocity making use of the toolset of accessibility instruments available in the Action’s portfolio. The STS benefitted from the close involvement of officials from both municipalities and from the Euroregion Galicia-Norte de Portugal, a bi-national entity empowered to formulate and implement cross-border policies. The work presented in this book illustrates well the intense week of work that the members of the JRN dedicated to the case study. They were able to, within just one week’s time, understand and analyse the interesting complexity of the Eurocity, its challenges and its opportunities. The topics addressed and the methods and approaches used attracted the attention of local officials, as possible policy options towards their own planning goals, a sign of the quality of the work accomplished by our young researchers. We are very happy to have organised this STS and proud of the outcomes that the members of the JRN were able to produce from their work and experience in Valença and Tui. It is inspiring to see that the goal of preparing younger generations for the demanding area of scientific research in the European context has been achieved, with significant results. These young researchers have proved that they can organise themselves and generate interesting outputs matching those achieved by the senior colleagues.