The 12th Meeting of the Urban Mobility and Transportation Commission of the Union of Municipalities of Turkiye (UMT) was hosted by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality.
The first day of the meeting, organised to assess the current transportation needs of local governments, share good practices and develop common solutions, concluded with an intensive programme.
Speaking at the opening session held at the Türkan Saylan Contemporary Life Centre of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, host representative and Secretary General of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Tayfun Yılmaz stated that the consultations and exchange of information and experience to be held within the scope of the meeting would make significant contributions to the development of local governments’ transportation policies.
Ulutaş: “Maritime transportation is an important component of transportation systems”
Speaking after Yılmaz, UMT Deputy Secretary General Feridun Ulutaş emphasised that transportation is of critical importance for the economic development of cities, social cohesion, environmental sustainability and quality of life. Noting that municipalities’ responsibilities in the field of transportation are increasing in response to population growth and diversifying mobility needs, Ulutaş highlighted the importance of strengthening information sharing and cooperation among local governments. He stated that UMT closely monitors municipalities’ transportation needs and continues its efforts to disseminate good practices and develop solutions to existing challenges.
Pointing out Türkiye’s significant potential in maritime transportation, Ulutaş said:
“Maritime transportation constitutes an important component of transportation systems with its high carrying capacity, environmentally friendly structure and economic advantages. According to data from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, 553.2 million tonnes of cargo were handled at Türkiye’s ports in 2025, while the number of cruise passengers increased by 13.2 per cent compared to the previous year, reaching 2.138 million. These figures clearly demonstrate the strategic importance of maritime transportation in terms of economic development and tourism.”
Ulutaş noted that consultations are being held with relevant ministries and institutions to contribute to resolving the problems municipalities face in the field of transportation and that work is continuing on the report entitled “Priority Problems Faced by Municipalities in Urban Transportation and Proposed Solutions.” He also stated that, within the framework of international cooperation and in line with the protocol signed with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), efforts to translate important publications into Turkish are ongoing. In addition, he said that the Transportation Consultancy Programme for municipalities in the earthquake-affected region is continuing. Within the scope of the programme, field analyses were conducted in Adıyaman, and the Adıyaman Transportation Action Plan was prepared and delivered to the municipality.
Utku Cihan, Mayor of Hopa and Chair of the UMT Urban Mobility and Transportation Commission, stated that the Commission has undertaken work that produces tangible results and affirmed that joint efforts addressing municipalities’ transportation needs will continue with determination in the coming period.
Following the opening speeches, Süleyman Özdemir, Head of the Transportation Department of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, delivered a comprehensive presentation. Participants were informed about transportation services carried out throughout Muğla, public transportation systems, maritime transportation, traffic management practices, sustainable transportation initiatives and future planning.
Commission agenda items discussed
The meeting then proceeded with discussions on the Commission’s agenda items. In this context, participants were informed about the Transportation Consultancy Programme carried out by UMT, while the current status of publications prepared under the cooperation protocol signed between UITP and UMT and the ongoing work were evaluated. In addition, views were exchanged on the draft report entitled “Priority Problem Areas and Proposed Solutions for Municipalities in Urban Transportation,” and local governments shared their expectations and recommendations.
During the afternoon session, maritime transportation was discussed. Existing challenges in maritime transportation were evaluated, and the opinions and recommendations of sector representatives were heard. Representatives from Dentur, Turyol, İDO, Mavi Marmara, the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping and Pereme Tourism attended the meeting and shared their assessments regarding the development of maritime transportation.
The programme also featured a presentation entitled “The Right to Accessible Transportation.” The presentation addressed the importance of accessible transportation services for all users, relevant legislation, standards and practices, and the responsibilities of local governments in this field.
During the evaluation session held at the end of the day, the topics discussed throughout the first day were summarised, and views were exchanged regarding the Commission’s future activities.
The Urban Mobility and Transportation Commission programme will continue on the second day with visits showcasing good practices. As part of the field visits, participants will examine practices in maritime transportation and port operations on site and exchange information and experiences.