How do cities manage their image during the period of public works of a new urban mobility project ? A case study of Stuttgart 21 new railway station project and the new tram network project in Liège.

Abstract

In order to increase the attractiveness as well as the hospitality of their area, in a growing competition between different European cities, many cities are investing today in large urban mobility projects. Used to respond to the climate and mobility challenges of the future, they also address the needs of the various stakeholders that make up the city’s microcosm. Nevertheless, these projects involve broad public works that can tarnish the image of the city and the final project.

The aim of this master thesis is to define through the concrete analysis of a case study composed of the new tram network project of the city of Liège and the Stuttgart 21 railway project, the strategies put in place by the actors of these projects and the local authorities in terms of image management. Composed of two major axes, the first one aim at promoting the final project, the second one at communicating with the different stakeholder groups during the public works period. Thanks to our research as well as about twenty interviews with the different actors of the two projects, we were first able to discover the numerous communication channels put in place by the project stakeholders. Secondly, we were able to underline the importance of co-creation among citizens in order to ensure a better approval of the final project.

Thanks to a quantitative study among the population of Liège and visitors to the city, we were also able to analyse the effect of the different actions put in place by the actors of the Tram project in Liège. The opinion of experts as well as the comparison with the Stuttgart project and other projects finally allowed us to make recommendations concerning the Liège project.