From

New York
to
Bucharest

This is a publication of the

globalcities.aecom.com
2012 / AECOM, all rights reserved.

Publication team
Project director
Margot Orr
Creative director
Daniel Elsea
Graphic designer
Bel Bimbra
Editor
George Arvantis
Principal-in-charge
Christopher Choa

From
New York
to
Bucharest

Contents
From New York to Bucharest

Bucharest in Europe

An unfinished city

Retinking Bucharest

Bucharest, moving forward

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From New York to Bucharest

Bucharests mayor
goes to New York.
Bucharest, the capital of Romania, an
ancient city in the heart of Eastern Europe
is on the up. Forward-looking, confident
in its recent entry into the European
Union, and bullish on its future, Bucharest
is emerging on the international urban
scene. It is against this backdrop that
earlier this year, Dr Sorin Oprescu, mayor
of Bucharest, travelled to New York. While
it is said that all cities remain unfinished
even a place like New York New York is
one of those cities that all can learn from.
Important, urbane, cosmopolitan, New
York is the worlds city.

While on his visit, Mayor Oprescu

met with his counterpart, Mayor
Michael Bloomberg. The two
mayors shared experiences
about urban improvements in
their respective cities. They
discussed New Yorks recent
success with its grand projets
such as the Highline, the Second
Avenue Subway and the
redevelopment of Lower
Manhattan. Looking for crossdisciplinary urban thinking, and
on the suggestion of Mayor
Bloomberg, Mayor Oprescu was
introduced to AECOM.
Bucharests Mayor met with Fred
Werner, AECOMs president of
business lines. Out of that
session came an invitation from
Mayor Oprescu to AECOM to have
a team of specialists to come to
his city to assess and present
their vision for the citys urban
development.

When I visited your office in

New York, I knew that this
was the beginning of a great
collaboration.

Mayor Oprescu

On 23 February 2012, a team of

AECOM experts held a two daylong workshop with the Mayor and
Bucharest city leaders. The group
analyzed the issues facing
Bucharest, assessing
opportunities for improvement.
They diagnosed problems and
proposed implementable answers
to help Bucharest move forward as
a thriving, dynamic European city.

7,670km
Distance between
Bucharest and New York

Flig

to B

New York

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ght distance from New York,

Bucharest

Bucharest
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Our world is changing, and cities interact

directly with each other more than ever
before. We must find solutions to make
Bucharest that make it more attractive
in an increasingly competitive and
interconnected world.

Chris Choa, AIA

Principal, Design + Planning, AECOM

12

We all know that a city can never

be completed, and compared
with other capitals, Bucharest
has experienced sharp growth.
However, it is clear that the city
has major gaps in terms of its
infrastructure compared with its
European peers. It is very much a
work in progress here in Bucharest.

Gheorghe Patrascu
Chief Architect, Bucharest City Hall

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Bucharest in europe

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15

We are living in
an urban age.
As city-makers, we are living in an
extraordinary age the urban age.
Nearly 60% of the worlds population
is now urban, and making continues
to urbanize at a rapid rate.
Cities generate the majority of global
wealth, and are home to virtually 100
percent of global innovation.

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18th/19th Century The Age of Empires: Pre-Modern Bucharest

20th Century The Age of Nations:
Liberal Bucharest
The Age of Ideologies: Socialist Bucharest
21st Century The Age of Cities: Regenerated Bucharest?

As cities grow and grow, so does

their importance in geo-political,
socio-economic and cultural
terms. Due to globalization, the
influence of nations is
decreasing as the prominence
of cities increases. Cities are
connecting with one another,
mimicking the web-like
metaphors we see in our global
economy and mediascape. And
as the planet faces increasing
environmental pressures, it is
the template of the city that we
will need to use to solve many of
these pressing issues such as
energy and greenhouse gas
reduction, smarter transport
and socio-economic balance.
What does this all mean for the
future Bucharest? As the
Romanian capital integrates into
the global web of cities, it will
become more like other

international cities than other

parts of Romania. As evidenced
in Mayor Oprescus visit, it is
already looking abroad to
comparable cities, forging
relationships and learning best
practices with its peers. As this
integration moves apace, the
future Bucharest will be in
regional and global competition
in the race for capital, people,
ideas and talent. Cities
fundamentally exist for trade
and exchange, which is what
supports all other characteristics.
This is why successful modern
cities need to make themselves
attractive to others to survive
and thrive. It is also why
infrastructure and transport
capacity of cities are now often
dictating their ability to grow and
evolve. As Romania and Eastern
Europe develops, Bucharest will
not be immune to this.

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The 10th largest

city in the
European Union

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London
Berlin
Madrid
Rome
Paris
Hamburg
Budapest
Vienna
Warsaw
Bucharest
Barcelona
Munich
Milan
Prague
Sofia
Brussels
Birmingham
Cologne
Naples
Turin
Stockholm
Marseilles
Valencia
Leeds
Krakow
Amsterdam
Lodz
Athens
Riga
Seville

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In order to compete,
Bucharest needs to
focus on:

Recognizable global Identity

Urban population density
Mixed land uses
Multi-modal connectivity
High-quality open space
Proactive governance

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23

An unfinished city

Gravitating to
Bucharest.
A review of trends relating to urban areas around the
world indicates that Bucharest is facing many of the
same challenges and issues that face other cities.
Increasing life expectancies are impacting work
environments, accommodation requirements and
healthcare needs, as the population ages. Average
household sizes are changing too, as smaller families
require more diverse types of accommodation,
supported by appropriate security and amenity
provision. This is intensified by the continued
migration from countryside to city, which is still
having an impact in developing contexts such as
Romania. As people seek work, education and urban
lifestyles, they are naturally gravitating to the city.

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As Bucharest grows and

the wider region develops,
the changes in economy
are impacting the citys
physical form.

25

As Bucharest grows and

the wider region develops,
the changes in economy
are impacting the citys
physical form.
Changing profiles in
employment patterns are
taking place as an economy
such as Romanias transitions
away from agriculture, through
manufacturing and towards
the service sector. All this
increases the pressure on the
use of urban space, which
needs to be used more
efficiently as land values,
property prices, rental rates,
and (last but certainly not
least) aggregate
environmental impacts rise.

There are other impacts as

well: socio-economic changes
as middle-classes develop
with aspirations of both car
and home ownership and a
desire to have a more leisurely
lifestyle. These have both
economic and ecological
implications. Rising pressure
on urban systems manifests in
increased traffic congestion
and rising passenger numbers
on public transport networks.
Rising international air
transportation (both freight
and passenger movements)
brings up the need for airportrelated development.
As urban society evolves so do
its infrastructure needs.

The future Bucharest will

have to do more with less
and do it more intelligently.

26

A city of Bucharests profile emerging on an

international stage and in transition bring it into
the international network
of cities with consequences of an increasingly
interdependent global economic and political
environment. This has led cities in a similar position
to pay more attention to the growing market and
financial interest in environmental sustainability
and more efficient
typologies of
The existing hardware is
urban planning
there to make for a great
and building
European city.
design. In more
recent years, the
added knock-on
effects of the global economic downturn have
revealed just how interconnected cities are today
with the pressure that reduced budgets have placed
on public services, real estate economics and
society as a whole.

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Future development plans for Bucharest must consider all these,

especially the implications of changing economic conditions and
markets, in order to outperform its competitors. It means
Bucharest will need to get smarter at attracting business,
sustaining jobs in the city and providing an attractive quality of
life for its residents.
There will always be unanticipated changes that require a
responsive attitude to development but many of the issues
facing the worlds cities today can be planned for and are the
result of gradual on-going change. Taking a proactive approach
to urban planning and design is essential. The future Bucharest
will have to do more with less and do it more intelligently.
Bucharest is still an unfinished city. Poor macro-planning led to
general neglect in the period following the 1989 Revolution.
Increases in the countrys GDP have not necessarily filtered
down to the average citizens. Bucharest has the opportunity to
be a good regional pole, but does not yet have the focus to do so.
Moreover, there is a governance challenge. There are seven
distinct city councils with independent administrative budgets
that require greater coordination and alignment. Political and
cross-authority dialogue often fails to come to terms with longterm consequences and decision-making.
These challenges are difficult, but certainly not impossible.
Much of Bucharests potential is found in its regional and
European connections. It remains at the centre of important
pan-European corridors and has the existing hardware to make
for a great European city. Bucharest has many opportunities
before it, and Bucharests time is now.

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Much of Bucharests
potential is found in its
regional and European
connections.

Possible opportunity
areas include:
Existing primary heavy infrastructure
Unoccupied land intervention areas
Restructuring of communist neighbourhoods
Boulevard regeneration
Metro extension
Bucharest 2000 plan
Sports park
Research park near Politehnica University
Canal Danube
South airport
Southern extension road (connects to airport)

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Rethinking Bucharest

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31

Bucharest, 23.02.2012

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33

How do we make the most of

Bucharests opportunities?
Where to begin?

Workshop participants organized into three

groups, reviewed projects selected for longterm social, economic, environmental value.
Each group was charged with prioritizing no
more than three or four technically sound
projects that communicated value in the
following political terms:
Initiatives likely to be most popular;
Initiatives likely to create most jobs;
Initiatives that would be easiest to implement
in the short term.

34

Most popular
Discussion focused on value,
source of funding, quality of life,
improved mobility, deliverability
Metro:
improves quality of commute
R&D centre at Politehnica University:
supports emerging creative class
Green Corridor:
demonstrates commitment
to quality of life
Energy Efficiency Measures:
economic benefits to consumers
and city

Conclusion
Upgrades and harmonization
of public transit will generate
comprehensive benefits
to Bucharests urban
development, and will have
long-lasting public support.

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36

Most jobs
Discussion focused on job creation
through tourism, emerging
industries, transport strategies
Danube Canal: economic engine for
tourism and logistics
Politehnica University: Internet City
develops citys competitive advantages
Road Upgrades: improving connectivity
supports emerging service sectors.
Airport Corridor: supports logistics/
new industries, connects with other
cities

Conclusion:
As a first priority, an incubator
and seed tenant (e.g. MIT Media
Lab) at the Politehnica University
would spur economic innovation.
A close second would be the
development of an airport corridor
based around the metro and an
enterprise zone.

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Early wins
Discussion focused on obtaining
rapid benefits that still support
long-term value Emphasis on high
visibility, minimal investment,
lowest economic risks
Vitoria Road Improvement: emphasizes
commitment to improving urban
identity
TransUrban Bucharest: emphasizes
quality of urban life through public
realm
Smart Ticketing for public transport:
time vs. trip segment charging
simplifies travel
Smart Payment for car parking: helps
reduce traffic congestion

Conclusion:
The Smart Payment
car parking system is an
easy-to-implement system
that would generate
significant income for the city
and increase the efficiency of
the existing road network.

38

Upgrades and harmonization

of public transit will generate
comprehensive benefits to
Bucharests urban development,
and will have long-lasting public
support.

39

Bucharest moving forward

If Bucharest is an unfinished city, then how do we help make it more

complete? In a context of economic challenge, political complexity
and environmental responsibility, what is feasible? This isnt an era
for pie-in-the-sky thinking, but one of concrete action. Bucharest
must emphasize functionality to become more competitive. That
which can be done will more likely get done.

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From our discussions and studies, several ideas for concrete solutions
emerged that provide jobs, improve the existing urban fabric, and
advance the tourism industry. We developed three key steps that offer
a direct roadmap advancing urban progress in Bucharest. These three
steps can bring Bucharest to the status of European hub that it aspires
to, and can achieve.

SPECIFIC ISSUES
1. Create a Bucharest Urban
Development Agency, to prepare
development sites and unlock
investment assets
2. Develop a comprehensive
transport strategy, tied to
economic growth, that increases
capacity by 50%, supports job
growth, and improves the public
realm network by 2020
3. Retain PPP advisory, optimizing
PPP laws and preparing
competitive funding strategies

PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS
PPP is most appropriate when:
Public sector doesnt have
independent funds
Private sector has required
expertise
Public sector can clearly define
performance criteria
Funding level must justify cost
of procurement and risks must
be allocated.
Projects are appropriate for
PPP funding when:
Required investment is big
enough
Project is clearly defined
and limited.
Delivery of project contributes to
larger integrated strategy
Project guarantees a specified
revenue stream
Overall financial performance
can be defined, measured,
and monitored

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42

A more cohesive
public realm.

High quality public realm in

Bucharest creates vibrant and
accessible places within the city.
However, these special places
would benefit from a
comprehensive public realm
network that would tie all of
Bucharest together. Pedestrian,
cycle, and public transport links
that connect key public spaces
create a sense of mobility that

encourages residents and

tourists to visit more of the city.
Well used public spaces are safer
and create more jobs while
impacting substantially on the
quality of the experience. Linking
existing high quality public
spaces in the city through
strategic regeneration will create
identity, jobs, and lift Bucharest
as a destination.

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44

A smarter approach
to transportation.
Smart Ticketing is already in
place in Bucharest for most
public transport systems.
However linking the Metro,
through Smart Ticketing, to
busses and other forms of
public transport would
significantly increase efficiency
and frequency of use and
potentially lower costs for
citizens. Closing the loop on
Smart Ticketing will make the
existing Metro system more
attractive and usable. Car
usage goes down, congestion
improves, and urban life is
healthier and more pleasant.
Every major European and
American city charges for
parking in their city centre. A
comprehensive parking strategy
including zoned street parking,
dedicated parking garages, and
Smart Payment is well within
reach for Bucharest. The
introduction of a zoned and

chargeable parking network

would decrease congested
streets, increase revenue to the
city, and could be developed by
a private partner through a PPP
programme. With the cities
guidance, the private developer
would action the scheme, and
both would share the profit.
Improving public transport
through Smart Ticketing and
strategic parking solutions that
benefit from Smart Payment
together create substantial
revenue, many jobs, and a
healthier urban environment
that is less dependent on
private car ownership. PPP can
be used to implement both
strategies easily and efficiently,
benefiting the city as well as
private development
in Bucharest.

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46

An inspiring focus
for urban regeneration.

Existing underutilized industrial

sites in Bucharest put the city at
a distinct advantage for future
development. These sites are
well placed close to the city
centre and aligned with public
transport. Mixed use
development, of a sustainable
density, is appropriate for the
community and existing building
fabric around these sites. Many
of the vacant industrial sites
benefit from existing transport
links that are scheduled for
important improvements. The
Gara de Nord, for example, is the
station that links Henri Coanda
International Airport by rail to the
centre of Bucharest.

The multi-modal global transit

available to these industrial sites,
with a few key improvements,
would unlock substantial asset
value and encourage the
international standard of
development Bucharest needs.

47

All cities from Bucharest to

New York are a constant work
in progress. Over more than two
decades, Bucharests story has
been one of challenge and
opportunity from revolution to
membership in the European
Union. The conditions of life in
post-1989 Bucharest have led the
city on a new journey, a new
chapter for Bucharest in the age
of cities. Bucharest is taking its
place in metropolitan Europe,
connecting to the world and
taking the steps towards better
liveability.

48

Bucharest is
moving forward

PARTICIPANTS
AECOM
Alfredo Biosca, Inocsa Romania
Jon Blasby, Program, Cost, Consultancy
Martin Bright, Transportation, PPP
Ken Carmichael, Building Engineering
Christopher Choa, Design + Planning
Andrew Jones, Planning, Design + Development
Ben Martin, Economics
Alan OBrian, Transportation
Margot Adelle Orr, Design + Planning
Catalin Paunescu, Inocsa Romania
Angelo Perrone, Inocsa Romania
Nicoleta Perrone, Inocsa Romania
Mihnea Predeteanu, Consultant
Alex Serban, Senior Consultant
BUCHAREST CITY HALL
Sorin Oprescu, Mayor of Bucharest
Gheorghe Patrascu, City Architect
Bogdan Sosoaca, Executive Director, Investments Department Municipality
Cosmin Gheorghiu, Head of Utilities. Investment Department Municipality
Ion Dedu, Executive Director, Transport Department Municipality
Adrian Bucur, Civil Defence and Protection Department Municipality
Sorin Gabrea, Architect- President Technical Urbanism Committee
Catalin Grosu, Director Foreign Affairs and Protocol Department
GUESTS
Anca Ginavar, General Director in the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism
Dorin Stefan, Architect and Professor at Ion Mincu University
Anita Stamatoiu, Tudor Costachescu, Matei Vlasceanu, Cipri Rasoiu, Students
49

...to create, enhance and sustain

the worlds built, natural and social
environments.

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