Nowadays traffic management is a complex task. Policy choices have to be made and operational decisions have to be taken on how to deal with car, trucks, busses, bicycles and pedestrians in the network and how to keep them safe and flowing, especially where they interact. Without a clear and transparent framework to base these decisions upon, problems and arbitrariness could occur. Sustainable regional and urban mobility requires a widely supported vision on the desired use of the different networks. A multimodal network management framework offers such a vision. It is a translation from mobility policy into and clear and unambiguous description of the desired situation for the different networks. Which mode has priority on route X? What is the average travel time mode Y has to meet? Which operational speed is the target for the bus on relation A-B? To compare this ideal situation with the actual one, it becomes clear where challenges are and bottlenecks between modes become visible. For the bottlenecks, policy makers and traffic managers can formulate solution directions in line with the desired situation for the networks.

The translation from a mobility policy into the desired situation is done in six steps
1. Start the project and involve all relevant stakeholders. In this step the goals of the project should be clearly defined.
2. Determine the basic principles and list the policy objectives are listed. What are the current agreements and ambitions for traffic and transport in the city or region?
3. Determine accessibility profiles. Accessibility profiles are the basic principles, but more specific and further detailed per area.
4. Determine the functional arrangement and describe and map the intended use of the network.
5. Decide on priorities to facilitate and manage traffic on those links. Choices have to be made: between traffic of different modes and functions, but also between the same modes and different functions.
6. Formulate the frame of reference, combining all results from the previous steps. Also, the practical consequences of policy choices are covered.

In the paper the steps are described in more detail and some applications of the multimodal network management framework are given.@en

MAKEWAVES is an international multi-partner collaborative project bringing together six academic institutions and two commercial consultancies. Their objective is to overcome the inherent problems for long term research projects that don't naturally attract significant domestic funding, but which may ultimately lead to internationally accepted guidance for structural codes or standards.

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