Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

Tools & Resources

A comprehensive methodological document developed within the SUMPs for BSR project to support cities in building effective, realistic and practical monitoring and evaluation systems for sustainable urban mobility planning.

SUMPs for BSR

Monitoring & Evaluation Framework

For Effective Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning

The publication goes beyond a general discussion of the role of monitoring and evaluation in the SUMP process and presents them as part of a broader and coherent support package, which also includes the Indicator Selector Tool and the M&E Plan Template. The document explains the logic, principles, and strategic importance of monitoring and evaluation, showing how they can support decision-making, institutional learning, and the improvement of urban policies.

European policy context

The publication also presents the broader policy and regulatory context of sustainable mobility planning in Europe. It discusses the development of the SUMP approach, refers to the European Green Deal, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, and the new requirements arising from the TEN-T Regulation, including obligations related to the preparation of SUMPs and the monitoring of selected indicators in areas such as sustainability, safety, and accessibility. In this way, the document helps explain why monitoring and evaluation are becoming an increasingly important component of mobility planning not only at the local level, but also at the European level.

Baseline analysis & diagnosis

An important part of the publication is the baseline analysis and diagnosis of current challenges. The document summarises a review of previous projects and guidelines related to monitoring and evaluation in SUMP, and also presents the results of the analysis carried out by project partners from the Baltic Sea Region.

Stakeholders & data sources

The publication discusses the role of cooperation with key stakeholders, such as public transport operators, road and rail infrastructure managers, schools, hospitals, universities, ports, logistics centres, and shared mobility operators. It also highlights less obvious but valuable data sources, such as bus drivers, employees of large office complexes, school communities, and residents themselves. The document also shows how existing strategic and operational city documents can be used as a source of indicators, baseline values, and targets.

Tools, methods & lessons learned

The publication also presents key tools and methods supporting monitoring, including GIS analysis, modal split measurement, new data collection technologies, and external data platforms. An important element of the document is also the lessons learned from pilot activities carried out in partner cities of the Baltic Sea Region, such as Cēsis, Gävle, Gdynia, Greifswald, Panevėžys, and Turku. Based on these experiences, the publication presents practical ways of monitoring active mobility, describes the solutions tested, the data collected, the indicators developed, and the most important implementation lessons.

A framework for local M&E

In its most practical section, the document presents a framework for developing a local monitoring and evaluation system, including the thematic scope that should be covered by monitoring, the recommended steps for preparing a local M&E plan, general recommendations and risks to avoid, as well as guidance tailored to very small, small, and medium-sized cities. The publication emphasises that a well-designed system should simultaneously support the diagnosis of the current situation, monitor changes taking place in the mobility system, and assess the effects of implemented measures. The document also shows how to use the Indicator Selector Tool in the process of selecting indicators and what role the M&E Plan Template plays in translating methodological assumptions into practical organisational and operational solutions. In addition, it includes a section devoted to the testing and validation of the framework, as well as recommendations on how to present data and information generated by the monitoring and evaluation system.