The EU Funds Investment Programme "Station 2.0" offers municipalities the opportunity to receive funding to improve mobility for residents by developing convenient and safe public and private transport connection points — so-called mobility hubs.
In a survey conducted by the Ministry of Transport during the conversation festival LAMPA, 24% of respondents identified access to urban public transport as the most important element of a mobility hub, 21% highlighted parking for private cars, and 19% noted pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, as well as environmental accessibility.
“A mobility hub is where different modes of transport meet – rail, urban and regional public transport, and private vehicles. Most respondents of the survey agreed that by developing or improving accessible mobility hubs, they would be more motivated to use public transport. If our goal is to encourage as many people as possible to travel by train and other forms of public transport, we must ensure not only that public transport is accessible to various groups of people, but also that transfer from private cars to public transport are convenient. EU funding will give municipalities the opportunity to build mobility hubs tailored to the needs of their residents,” said Elīna Šimiņa-Neverovska, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport.
Festival visitors shared their views on what they consider the most important elements of the “Station 2.0” concept. The top elements identified by respondents were:
access to urban public transport (24%),
park & ride facilities for private cars (21%), and
micromobility infrastructure and environmental accessibility (19%). Access to regional public transport was also noted as important (15%), while bike and e-scooter parking, shared mobility options, electric charging stations, and additional services (such as shops, parcel lockers, etc.) were rated as less important. In total, 257 residents participated in the survey.
Convenient public transport infrastructure and easy transfers between transport modes are key to encouraging a shift in travel habits and increasing the use of public transport. This, in turn, helps reduce reliance on private vehicles. With fewer private cars on the roads, traffic intensity, air pollution, and environmental noise all decrease — creating a more pleasant and safer urban environment for residents.
With funding from the EU REcovery and Resilience Facility, six mobility hubs are already under construction in Riga and two more in the surrounding Pierīga region, located near railway stations: Sarkandaugava, Ziemeļblāzma, Bolderāja, Šķirotava, Zemitāni, Dauderi, Saulkrasti, and Carnikava. These projects are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.
EU financing is also available to municipalities for the development of public transport connections (mobility hubs). In the first project selection round, nine projects have already received support and will be implemented in Riga and Cēsis. Municipalities still have access to EU funding (approximately €63 million) for the implementation of projects in the second and third selection rounds. The deadline for completing these projects is December 31, 2029.
EU funding covers up to 85% of the eligible project costs.The minimum eligible cost per project is €200,000.The maximum is €4 million. The amount of funding depends on the type of public transport connection or mobility hub the municipality plans to build.
The conversation festival LAMPA took place on June 20 and 21. The participation of the Ministry of Transport in the festival was supported with EU Technical Assistance funding.
