Sustainable mobility is a key issue in the future of cities, where transport plays a fundamental role in the ecological footprint and the wellbeing of society. For this reason, the UCAM Chair of Mobility and Sustainable Transport of Metropolitan Murcia, in collaboration with Tranvía and Transportes of Murcia, has held the 2nd Edition of the Mobility Awards of the Region of Murcia 2024, in which territorial entities, companies, university researchers and social agents that stand out for their innovative actions or measures and their commitment to sustainability have participated.

The awards ceremony, organised by the UCAM Degree in Civil Engineering, was attended by Josefina García, rector of the University - who opened the event - Pedro de Los Santos Jiménez, vice-dean of the degree; Roberto José Liñán, director of the Chair; Chema Lozano, managing director of Transportes de Murcia, and Santiago Molina, technical director of Tranvía Murcia.

Expert in Mobility Planning and Management

Roberto Liñán pointed out that these awards were created ‘to recognise the most innovative initiatives in terms of mobility and sustainable transport in the Region of Murcia, as well as to promote the implementation of sustainable solutions in the sector’. In addition, it has announced the launch of the University Expert Course in Mobility Planning and Management which will start next October, in blended learning mode. This course is aimed at professionals from the public and private sectors, as well as students interested in acquiring specialised training in sustainable mobility.

The winning initiatives in the different categories were:

Municipalities and Public Administrations:

City councils with over 25,000 inhabitants and other administrations:

• Project 'Espacio Algameca', of the Cartagena City Council. Its aim is to eliminate the urban gap formed by the Rambla de Benipila as it passes through the city, which divides the central area of the Concepción neighbourhood.  

Municipalities with less than 25,000 inhabitants:  

• Project 'Works to improve road safety in the crossings of the municipality (Alguazas)', by the Alguazas Town Council. It includes road safety improvement works on the RM-531, RM-533 and RM-531-V.

Companies, large companies, SMEs, etc..:

• Project 'ENVAIR360 in Cartagena', by Libelium Lab S.L. Ambient Intelligence Platform on which all your air quality and meteorological data can be connected.

Research projects:

• Undergraduate Dissertations: ‘Mobility plan to promote the use of sustainable means of transport through the implementation of bicycle lanes to UCAM’, elaborated by Alexandros Kiriakos Palomo, student of the Degree in Civil Engineering.
• Master's Dissertation: ‘Study of the evolution of post-COVID-19 mobility in the public transport network of the municipality of Murcia’, elaborated by Daniel San Eustaquio Pérez. 

Some of the award winners and finalists with Pedro de Los Santos Jiménez, vice-dean of the degree; Roberto José Liñán, director of the Chair; Chema Lozano, managing director of Transportes de Murcia, and Santiago Molina, technical director of Tranvía Murcia.