ROME – After years of discussions and a regulatory framework often plagued by doubts and controversies, Rome Capital has taken a significant step forward in the management of local public roads. The Capitoline Assembly has approved the first Regulation dedicated to Road Consortia, introducing an organic discipline that clearly defines roles, responsibilities, and operational procedures. The objective of the measure is to overcome a situation characterized by differing interpretations and frequent disputes, offering clear rules to both citizens and the entities involved in road infrastructure management. The new regulation also addresses a regulatory void that, at the local level, had persisted for a long time despite the existence of national legislation dating back to 1918.
WHO WILL DO WHAT IN ROAD MANAGEMENT
The approved text details the responsibilities of Road Consortia, which will continue to manage the maintenance of their owned roads and related infrastructure. These activities include the care of roadways, sidewalks, lighting systems, trees, water collection systems, signage, and cleaning. Alongside the Consortia, the tasks of the Capitoline structures are also defined. The Department of Infrastructure and Public Works will assume the role of general coordination, while the Municipalities will be responsible for oversight, verification, and control activities. The Municipalities will also represent Rome Capital in the consortium assemblies. The Capitoline Assembly, however, will retain competence over the approval of the establishment of new Road Consortia and the allocation of economic resources destined for the Municipality’s participation in the expenses incurred by the consortia.
HOW MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE CALCULATED
One of the most innovative aspects of the regulation concerns the definition of precise and transparent criteria for determining Rome Capital’s share of financial participation in the expenses incurred for roads open to public transit. The legislation stipulates that the municipal contribution can vary from 20 to 50 percent of the total expenditure, in line with existing legislation. The percentage will be calculated based on the actual public function performed by the road in question. The shares may increase in the presence of particular characteristics. A ten-percentage-point increase is foreseen for roads that perform a significant connecting function or play a strategic role in emergency situations. A five-percentage-point increase will be recognized for infrastructures used by public transport or necessary to reach schools, health services, and administrative offices. A further two-percentage-point increase will concern roads that allow access to cultural, religious, or collective interest services.
A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO ENSURE GREATER EQUITY
The regulation also introduces a principle aimed at ensuring an equitable use of public resources. For ordinary maintenance, Rome Capital will not be able to grant Consortia contributions higher than those incurred by the administration for the maintenance of its own roads within the same Municipality. Nevertheless, the minimum 20 percent share provided by law is guaranteed. The new system therefore aims to distribute resources proportionally to the public utility of the infrastructures, recognizing greater support for roads that perform functions considered more relevant for the community.
MORE PLANNING AND CERTAIN TIMELINES
Among the innovations introduced is the adoption of specific tools for planning and reporting expenses. The objective is to ensure greater punctuality in the disbursement of contributions by the administration and to reduce the risk that Consortia must anticipate the necessary sums for maintenance interventions. The new organization aims to make procedures more predictable and to favor better planning of activities, with benefits for both the entities involved and the citizens who use these roads daily.
REACTIONS AFTER THE APPROVAL
The Councillor for Public Works and Infrastructure, Ornella Segnalini, welcomed the approval of the regulation, emphasizing how the measure finally clarifies a complex matter often subject to controversy. According to the Councillor, the new regulatory framework will contribute to improving traffic safety, increasing transparency in the use of public resources, and defining more precisely the tasks of the various entities involved. Antonio Stampete, President of the Public Works Commission, also highlighted the value of the measure, recalling how Rome Capital fills a regulatory gap that had dragged on for over a century. In his opinion, the new instrument will prevent future disputes, improve the effectiveness of maintenance interventions, and ensure a more balanced management of public resources.
A NEW STARTING POINT
With the approval of the regulation, Rome Capital for the first time has a complete regulatory framework dedicated to Road Consortia. The new discipline aims to make the relationship between public interest and private responsibilities more transparent, providing clear criteria for the management of local public roads and creating the conditions for more efficient and planned maintenance over time. For the Capitoline administration, this is a step destined to concretely affect the management of a significant part of the city’s road network.
Source: https://urloweb.com/notizie/cronaca-di-roma/roma-approvato-il-primo-regolamento-sui-consorzi-stradali/
