Resilient Transportation and Infrastructure as Drivers of Regional Integration and Development
On the first day of the Local Government Forum in Zakopane, a panel discussion was held on the challenges facing resilient transportation and infrastructure.
The panel was moderated by Radosław Włoszek, President of the Management Board, “Koleje Małopolskie,” Poland
The panelists were:
Mariusz Krystian, Member of Parliament, Sejm of the Republic of Poland Tomasz Tomala, Vice President of the Management Board, Małopolska Regional Development Agency S.A. Andrzej Szarata, Rector, Tadeusz Kościuszko Krakow University of Technology; Cezary Grabarczyk, former Minister of Infrastructure, Civic Coalition; Bartosz Górski, Vice President of the Management Board, Rodzina Ulmów Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport Sp. z o.o.; Jacek Krupa, Council Member, Małopolska Provincial Assembly Krystian Zieliński, Director of the Department of Road Infrastructure and Transportation, Office of the Marshal of the Małopolska Province, Poland
Bartosz Górski emphasized that he values cooperation with allied forces. In his opinion, coordination between the military and civilian services was crucial to prevent any negative impact on passenger traffic. He also noted that the aviation sector contributes 1.6% to Poland’s GDP. The goal is to enhance aviation safety and cybersecurity.
The moderator raised the issue of changes taking place on the battlefield, including the emergence of drones as a security threat to airports.
Andrzej Szarata emphasized the excellent training of engineering staff and their ability to adapt to conditions. Infrastructure plays a key role, particularly the railways, which are saving Ukraine by transporting people and supplies. However, the railways are a “prime target” for terrorist attacks. The development of monitoring tools is essential. The rector also spoke about the important role of cybersecurity in infrastructure.
The Kraków Metro will also be an important element of infrastructure—not only for transportation but also for security—as it can serve as a shelter, a fact that must be kept in mind even during tunnel excavation.
The moderator asked how Małopolska had coped with the influx of visitors from the east.
Jacek Krupa replied that it had handled it excellently. There was already a Ukrainian diaspora in Małopolska before 2022, so the new Ukrainians who arrived after the outbreak of the war were not alone. Economically, we have benefited, as this has led to a drop in unemployment; visitors from Ukraine contribute to GDP.
Tomasz Tomala emphasized that thanks to investments in rail and road infrastructure, residents of Ukraine were able to reach us. In his opinion, the challenge for local governments is how to design infrastructure that is convenient for residents but also resilient to crises. For now, renovations are underway in municipal buildings and preschools. We need infrastructure that can withstand a “trial by fire.”
