East Attica

Description of the problem

Τhe area of East Attica is a major tourist center and plays a specific role in the transport sector. Within their administrative boundaries, the International Airport Eleutherios Venizelos and also the ports of Lavrio and Rafina have been developed. The marine transport in the region connects the mainland East Attica with Evia and a large number of islands in the Aegean Sea.

Although the region of East Attica has been recognized as a major pole of attraction forbothtourist sites and travel nodes, it is so close to Athens and also too far away from it. The reason for this contrast is the deficiencies that are recorded in the network of public, suburban and intercity transport.

The public transport services that are available for passengers are referred to intercity andsuburban buses with routes of 15-45 minutes, depending on the day, as well as taxi services. At this point it should be mentioned that due to the underdeveloped public transport network in the region, most residents and bystanders tend to use their private vehicles, enhancing thus the traffic problem and the environmental pollution in the area.

At the same time, this creates limited mobility of tourists from the ports and the airport whowhile they have often long residence times; they have not the ability to utilize with an optimum way something that would help both their own entertainment and the wider development of the area. Time consuming journeys using public transport is the limiting factor that prevents their movement within the wider region of East Attica.

A solution to this problem could be provided by the development and promotion of electricmobility, both in at municipal and inter-municipal level. Employees of the municipalities, consumers from different regions of the Regional Unit who are moved to the "center", tourists and transit passengers who want to utilize their waiting time until the departure of the ship or airplane with a two-hour four-hour visit either in the beach front or could in periphery point of touristic interest, could use for their moving electric vehicles. Additionally, electromobility is an economic, quiet and environmental friendly way of transportation, as the pollution and the CO₂ emissions are reduced.

Achievements

AVMap GIS SA is the Greek partner in Ele.C.Tra project and essentiallycontributes in introducing electromobility in Greece and more specific in East Attica. AVMap focuses on preparatory actions Greek key players should undertake in order to gradually adopt electromobility patterns in urban zones: networking activities with electromobility initiatives, exchange of knowledge regarding European practices and Ele.C.Tra model applied in pilot cities, promotion of public and private partnerships, preliminary studies for realistic action plans, pursuit of funding frameworks as well as training and raising awareness activities for the public.

In order to achieve our goals, we set up the Ele.C.Tra Greek National Support Group (NSG) which consists of local authorities, representatives of public and private bodies, research community, national networks for sustainability energy and other natural or legal participants was developed in East Attica. The main aim of the Greek NSG is the exchange of experiences from other European cities and the support of local authorities in order to set the electromobility ground, foresee and schedule analytical next steps (infrastructure network, charging points, methods of financing, dissemination actions) in view of perceiving and implementing  the European Guides for green transport in Greece.

Moreover, memorandums of understanding were signed between municipalities both of East Attica and other regions and companies, in order to utilize the Ele.C.Tra web-GIS platform which was developed by AVMap and to cooperate for the monitoring and the development of electromobility patterns in the public sector. Also, the exhibition of electric vehicles which was organized in East Attica promoted the use of electric mobility not only in the public and private sector, but also to residents and tourists. Moreover, the local society had the chance to test drive electric vehicles and scooters, get informed about their benefits and abilities, resolve their queries and get familiar with the new technology of electromobility which is the future of public and touristic transportation.

General Information

The Regional Unit of East Attica belongs in the Region of Attica in Greece. It is subdivided into 13 municipalities and its capital town is Pallini. Its population was 502,348 inhabitants according to the census of 2011, the regional unit’s total area was equal to 1,513 km² and the population density was 330 citizens per km². The settlements in East Attica characterized by high population growth in recent years and it remain a holiday resort for thousand inhabitants of Athens. It consists of a unique environment as it combines rocks, marble, sand and sea. East Attica attracts large number of tourists, especially during the summer season due to its landscape which compose clean beaches and aquamarine waters, such as the beaches of Porto Rafti, Nea Makri, Ropes, Loytsa, Keratea and Rafina. At the same time East Attica has rich historical attractions such as the historic area of Marathon, the Tomb of Marathon and the archaeological sites of Thorikos and Brauron which attract a huge number of tourists that are interesting in archaeological sites.

Attachments:

East Attica (in Greek).pdf

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