A Drive Time-Based Definition of Cross-Border Regions and Analysis of Population Trends

Abstract

This study aims to add technical insights to the debate about overcoming the cross-border obstacles to growth and jobs in the EU internal border regions. It proposes new border geography by defining distinct drive time zones (30, 30-60, 60-90, 90+ minutes) to terrestrial paved border crossing points. The drive time zones are delineated by applying network analysis algorithms to the TomTom Multinet (2017) road network data, based on governing speed limits for passenger cars and assuming free-flow i.e. without congestions and/or border crossing delays. Paved bridges and river ferries are also included. At the next stage, the study looks at the population changes during the period 2001-2011 in the adjacent to the borders "30 minutes" drive time zones and compares these changes with the respective country population trends . The analysis encompasses thirty one couples of EU border areas and three complex border regions, where more than two EU border areas are included. The analysis is executed in the context of the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies (KCTP) of the European Commission.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen