50% of residents of Tongerseweg give input | Municipality of Maastricht

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Municipality of Maastricht launched its first MapTalk project, resulting in over 190 unique preference votes and 80 comments from local residents. The MapTalk app was used for Tongerseweg, a busy access road with significant freight traffic, where the focus of the reconstruction is on residents' needs. Viviane de Groot, project leader and traffic design engineer, states: "We are receiving much more feedback than usual for an information session. I believe we will use the app more frequently in the future, combining physical meetings with digital ones."

Redevelopment of Tongerseweg

Viviane: "Tongerseweg is one of the city's old access roads. Over the years, it has become more traffic-oriented, but the human scale must also be reintroduced. Residents have been advocating for a ban on freight traffic for years. However, due to urban and regional interests, imposing such a ban is not feasible. Nevertheless, through reconstruction, we can reduce the nuisance caused by freight traffic.

During the reconstruction, the road foundation will be renewed, providing an opportunity to make above-ground adjustments. Hence, we initiated a participation process to involve residents early on and allow them to contribute to the reconstruction plans."

Impact of Coronavirus

"The main reason for using the MapTalk app was, of course, the coronavirus. The Municipality of Maastricht is very cautious about gathering groups of people and will not take risks with residents' meetings unless strictly necessary. The advantage of the app is that we can reach a broader audience. We are now receiving much more feedback than usual for an information session - a whopping 190 unique preference votes for the plans. Additionally, there is more balance in opinions. People who would not normally attend an open evening now comfortably participate from home with their laptops."

Combining Physical and Digital Approaches

"The initial responses are very positive and provide valuable insights. There was immediate support within the municipality to use the app, and I took the initiative to implement it myself. Our Communication department is exploring the opportunities for digital participation because we observe that more people are engaging. I believe we will use this approach more often in the future; combining physical meetings with digital ones."

Contributing Ideas and Input

Previously, residents would walk past posters during an information session, but now they can find several impressions directly on the map. They can see where new vegetation will be planted, how bike lanes will be arranged, and where traffic signs or speed bumps will be located, for instance. Residents can also measure the distance from the road to their homes. In the online map, residents can leave comments at specific points, such as suggesting improvements to street lighting, sidewalks, or safety measures. "This way, you know exactly where the comment is located," Viviane adds.

Ideas for the future

There is always room for improvement and further software development. Thanks to Viviane's suggestion, we are working on a solution for submitting multiple comments without residents having to repeatedly fill in their details. Viviane remarks: "This is a sensitive project in the city. A lesson for us in the future is to include an 'other' option for a blank vote alongside the two preference options for the reconstruction. This way, residents can propose an alternative without conforming to one of the two options, in addition to being able to submit their comments via the map."