Assessing intermodal re-balance and integration in urban transportation planning: an illustration on the basis of a sub-lagoon tube plan for Venice

The increasing need, in the transportation sector, for new policy initiatives that generate positive and sustainable environmental, social and economic impacts is increasingly directed towards the promotion of intermodal integration in transportation that may prompt a rebalance in the mobility pattern in relevant areas, especially in an urban environment. An interesting example of a city with a great variety of such complex transportation challenges is the Venice area in Italy. In this paper a feasibility study for a sub‐lagoon tube connection between Venice island and its mainland is presented. This project aims to improve accessibility and sustainability in the Venice region, by favouring an intermodal re‐balance in the local transportation system. In particular, the methodology of transportation evaluation and of scenario simulations will be highlighted, while the main results of the study will be presented and discussed. Multi‐criteria analysis is used here inter alia as an important assessment and evaluation method. The case study of Venice can be considered as an illustrative study, in which a novel and challenging urban plan is followed by specific studies assessing the overall sustainability of the proposed policy intervention, even though it is not ensued by an immediate implementation.