THE MEDITERRANEAN RAIL CORRIDOR AS AN OPPORTUNITY. ANALYSIS AND OUTLOOK OF THE SOIL FOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE VALENCIA PROVINCE

Abstract

Recent backing by the European Union regarding freight goods for the Mediterranean Railway Corridor (MRC) opens up an opportunity for the so-called 'Mediterranean Arch', and in particular for the province of Valencia to drive the development of economic activities that can benefit from the improvement of this infrastructure. Circumstances which encourage us to recognise, and in the same way, this article deals with the current situation of the physical assets on which such activities serve, and create possible strategies for the future. The objective of the work is to calculate the spatial planning criteria and the procedures that allow a wide network of relations which are able to evenly distribute the opportunities that the MRC will offer, and the associated logistic infrastructures. Otherwise the problems associated to the territorial dispersion of a multitude of municipal estates will endure, and with limited options to provide services for future demands. By using tools based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a territorial analysis is carried out for this job which is directed towards determining the location of the land for the most appropriate economic activity, in order to take advantage of the opportunities that come from carrying out this important infrastructure. Although the methodology used is focused on the province of Valencia, it is easily converted in other territorial areas. The general conclusions put emphasis on regional and supra-municipal planning as a means to boost economic development; the importance of strengthening the development of the logistics sector in an area characterized by the activity of exportation; the necessary management and coordination of the areas in economic activity, and the backing policies for sustainable action proposals, accompanied by a clear and complete legislative framework. Key words: land of economic activities, carriage of goods, logisitics industry, regional planning, regeneration, Mediterranean Arch, Mediterranean Railway Corridor, GIS, environment, landscape