The Council of Ministers has again given the green light to the Sustainable Mobility Bill. This initiative aligns with targets set with the European Commission in the Annex to the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, enabling it to move forward through parliamentary steps. Following the dissolution of a prior assembly and the ensuing election call, the text remains identical to the December 2022 version and does not introduce motorway tolls nor provisions limiting short train trips under 2.5 hours, as agreed between the PSOE and its partners in the legal accord.
Funding for usage and the implementation work behind this mechanism prompted changes to the standard, removing roads from the scope after an agreement with the Highways Administration and replacing them with a program that promotes rail transport in freight. Transport and Sustainable Mobility Minister Óscar Puente outlined this plan during a press conference after the government meeting.
The government aims for a specific freight target by 2030: a 10% share of total freight moved by train, rising from the current 4% in line with EU objectives. The action plan centers on three pillars: expanding rail networks, subsidizing Adif’s wages, and supporting operators through a multiyear funding period. Additional measures will encourage modal shifts and other transit options to complement road and rail. Puente highlighted projects such as the Algeciras-Zaragoza connection and outlined forthcoming actions including the expansion of Atlantic and Mediterranean corridor networks and the expansions of the Port of Valencia and the Port of Barcelona.
Key provisions of the Sustainable Mobility Bill include the potential establishment of urban tolls by municipalities. The bill empowers city councils to set vehicle roaming fees within low emission zones, in line with climate change law. The framework provides a legal basis to ensure uniform conditions across the region while allowing each municipality to decide whether to apply the rate.
There is no explicit clause limiting shorter flights in the text. The parties previously agreed to promote changes to parliamentary procedures, but the government has not advanced this measure since its initial announcement. If both parties choose to pursue it, such changes could be considered within the legislative process. The measure has been a topic of debate in Spain due to concerns about its impact on connecting flights, unlike similar efforts in France that targeted only a few routes.
More Inclusive and Digital
The law aims to deliver a more inclusive, sustainable, and digital mobility system. Mobility is recognized as a right for all citizens, with administrations responsible for ensuring it remains accessible and inclusive, including in rural areas. It promotes attractive alternatives to private car use, such as on‑demand public transport, shared mobility, and collaborative options. A car‑sharing platform welcomed the government’s emphasis on national‑level definitions and the opportunity to expand this model.
As smart cities evolve, the Integrated Mobility Data Domain (EDIM) will enable transportation companies, infrastructure managers, and administrations to share data for better planning of new infrastructure and services. The framework emphasizes safety, environmental sustainability, and human rights across all modes, and supports public‑private collaboration. A unified platform will streamline tests on public roads.
The fourth pillar of the law focuses on improving investment quality and governance in transport and mobility. It introduces mechanisms to broaden public participation and to provide analyses that demonstrate the socio‑environmental profitability of initiatives, while strengthening transparency and accountability.
Plans in Companies
Large activity centers that employ more than 500 people per site or more than 250 per shift must implement sustainable business mobility plans. Planning requirements will expand, with a State Strategic Mobility Planning Instrument (IPEEM) introduced at the national level and Simplified Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans created for municipalities with populations between 20,000 and 50,000.
Additionally, sustainable urban mobility plans should include measures to organize the urban distribution of goods through collaboration with neighboring municipalities, establishing uniform criteria to facilitate last‑mile transport and logistics between nearby urban centers.