Launch of 7 Newly Built SSTPAs in Greece

On Monday, December 11, 2023, the final event of project SSTPAs in Greece, entitled “Safe and Protected Parking Spaces for Freight Road Transport. Their role in enhancing road safety and competitiveness of Freight Road Transport Industry” took place at the premises of CERTH. The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, HIT/CERTH and OFAE (Federation of Truck Drivers of Greece).

At the event, the representatives of the Highway operators presented the seven SSTPAs built along the highways in Greece, which will be certified at the Silver level. At the same time, the attendees were informed by the Research Director of EKETA/IMET, Dr Georgia Ayfadopoulou about the e-service platform for booking parking spaces in the SSTPAs, and data analytics which will support decision-making for the management of existing and the construction of new SSTPAs. The platform was developed by HIT/CERTH in collaboration with the implementing bodies of the Ministry.

The event was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Responsible for Transport matters Mrs. Christina Alexopoulou who emphasized the importance of these spaces for increasing road safety on the highways. 

Besides professional drivers, transport companies and Highway Operators, the event was also attended by representatives of International agencies with the aim of promoting good practices. In particular, the Director General of ESPORG (European Secure Parking Organization) Mr Dirk Penasse and the Innovation manager of IRU (International Road Transport Union) Ted Zotos, emphasized the importance of developing SSTPAs to improve the working conditions of truck drivers. 

At the end of the event, Ms Stamelou and Mr Mizaras of HIT/CERTH organized a workshop with the users during which the e-service platform was presented to them and their additional needs and requirements were recognized. The contribution of OFAE was also important, which emphasized the importance of SSTPAs for the drivers.

The event took place within the framework of the SSTPAs in Greece project, co-financed by the CEF 2014-2020 mechanism. The project is coordinated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and involves the Highways of Nea Odos, Aegean Motorway and Olympia Odos, as well as the implementing bodies: Institute of Sustainable Mobility and Transport Networks of the National Center for Research and Technological Development (HIT/CERTH), University of Western Macedonia and University of Patras. HIT/CERTH is the technical coordinator of the project. 

You can learn more about the project here: https://www.imet.gr/index.php/en/projects-en-2/indicative-sector-b-projects-en/900-sstpas-in-greece-en