It was inaugurated in 2013, but to date its potential has remained unexpressed: the railway stop that should reduce the distances between the airport and the territories has failed in its mission and remains deserted. However, the scenarios could change: the Metropolitan City wants to take the idea of intermodality out of the slogans and give it concrete form. An ambition that walks on the legs of the European program Pr Calabria Fesr ESF and the “Intermodal local transport nodes” recognized as strategically important. The railway station, in fact, is one of these.
A series of projects with which to enhance sustainable mobility and multi-nodal interchange areas to which approximately 29 million euros have been allocated for Calabria. Moreover, the Regional Transport Plan indicates among the priorities the connections between the “Tito Minniti” and the territory, which today are guaranteed only by public service buses. The idea is to start with the redevelopment of the external part. Once the preliminary investigations have been carried out, the Region should finance the intervention. An operation that fits in with the other project which envisages a guided transport system (such as a people mover or light monorail) to directly connect the “Airport” railway station with the airport, a very complex design hypothesis already approved at the services conference. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan City is working to redevelop the station area, an almost forgotten infrastructure. A sign of renewed attention that comes in a season in which the future of the airport is at the center of the planning of Reggio and Messina. The signing of the agreement between the two Municipalities is indicative of the sharing of intentions. Moreover, the growth of the airport is closely linked to the users of Messina who from 1 December will be able to count on a new bus connection.
All opportunities are sought on the Calabrian side. The regional law in line with the European guidelines provides for the identification of local public transport nodes, classified into 4 hierarchical levels. Through these indices, the Regional Transport Plan and the Multiannual Local Public Transport Program have identified 54 nodes. The plan classified the intermodal nodes falling within the Municipality and divided the responsibilities, choices formalized through a joint report which defines the competence of the Metropolitan City with regard to the Airport node (III level) and the competence of the Municipality with regards to the nodes: Central Station (I level); Station, Lido (III level); Gallic neighborhood (IV level); Pellaro district IV level). During the technical roundtable with the Region, the general feasibility of the Institution’s project proposal was assessed, as well as the compatibility of the value of the maximum grantable contribution. In short, the operation should be successful. And it represents a first step in a broader path: in the meantime, more trains could observe the stop and while waiting for the complicated and expensive idea of a rail connection, perhaps a shuttle service could be activated.
