TheTA’s vision:

Sustainable and Attractive Mobility for All.

TheTA (Thessaloniki Transport Authority) operates for the public benefit and serves the public interest. According to its founding law, the organization’s purpose is the development, coordination, supervision, and regulation of public urban passenger transport, including buses and permanent way modes of transport (overground and underground), as well as marine transportation, in order serve the mobility needs of commuters within the Thessaloniki Regional Unit. This is achieved through an integrated, high-standard transportation system based on the principles of sustainable mobility. 

TheTA’s mission is to realize its vision of sustainable and attractive mobility for all, in a way that ensures its perpetuity and continuous evolution. Sustaining this vision in perpetuity relates to the concept of urban resilience. Concurrently, the methods for achieving this vision evolve alongside technological advancements and the opportunities they provide, as they are currently embodied in the concept of Smart Cities, through technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT). It focuses on a human-centered approach to client service by adopting Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and ultimately implementing Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Finally, mass transportation operations must be provided at a satisfactory level during emergencies and crises and return to normal levels as quickly as possible. 

The term "sustainable" refers to the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The economic dimension of sustainability pertains to the operational costs of public passenger transportation, which are partially covered by users (e.g., fares) and partially subsidized by the state (e.g., fare subsidies or compensation for transport services). Economic sustainability alone does not guarantee the provision of transport services to everyone, as it excludes routes deemed economically unviable. The cost of transportation should neither burden the users excessively nor strain the state budget to the extent that funding for the service is jeopardized. Therefore, it is inherently linked to the previously mentioned limitations in the definition of "for all." Maximizing economic sustainability—and consequently service provision—requires that public transport operations be efficient, effective, and productive.

The social dimension of sustainability involves serving all social groups, particularly those whose mobility would be economically unprofitable (e.g., unprofitable routes). As outlined in its founding law, TheTA operates for the public benefit and serves the public interest. In this context, the social parameter of sustainability ensures the inclusion of areas and citizens, so as to provide access to social and economic life, thus preventing social exclusion and promoting social cohesion and functionality.

The environmental dimension of sustainability concerns minimizing the environmental impact of transportation. Transportation technologies generate emissions, noise, and waste materials, affecting environmental sustainability in aspects such as aesthetics and quality of life, for both users and non-users of public transport. This specific economic model often necessitates the continuous extraction of raw materials for production, leading to waste of unused resources and by-products or polluting materials, which depletes natural resources and burdens the environment.

Finally, the term "attractive" in the vision refers to making public transport a conscious choice for non-users over other modes of transportation, and ensuring that current users continue to use it by choice rather than necessity. “Attractive” entails a level of service that meets citizens' needs concerning the functional and qualitative aspects of transportation. The Functional characteristics include service availability, frequency, punctuality, travel times, density of stops, seamless and easy transfers, and the satisfactory handling of emergencies. Qualitative characteristics include comfort, cleanliness, air conditioning, safety, and personal safety. 

Strategic Goals
Organization:

Internal organization and development: Consolidation of its institutional role through effectiveness, improvements in the legislative framework, and enhanced recognition. Ensuring continuous and adequate funding for the organization. Strengthening partnerships and participation in national and European networks and programs. Establishing the organization as a model and innovative entity, capable of transferring expertise. 

Economic Sustainability: Updating pricing policy. Securing funding for operations and infrastructure for transport providers. 

Social Sustainability: Ensuring geographic transport coverage aligned with social needs. Affordable transportation costs. Providing service to citizens across all categories. 

Environmental Sustainability: Promoting environmentally friendly transportation by reducing the energy footprint and emissions. Implementing smart transport systems adapted to demand, avoiding surplus capacity and excess vehicle kilometers. 

Attractive Transportation: Integrated, intermodal, and “smart” transport services combined with other amenities for citizens. Top-quality service provision and infrastructure. Enhancing the sense of safety and attractiveness of transport for all passengers. Addressing barriers to the mobility of public transportation means.