20 Fig.5 Infrastructure System transportati<strong>on</strong>
21 Regard<strong>in</strong>g the ma<strong>in</strong> urban centers, an assessment should be made to transform them <strong>in</strong>to Key Cities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> Entry-Exit Gates. Cities where not <strong>on</strong>ly nati<strong>on</strong>al roads of primary importance c<strong>on</strong>nect<strong>in</strong>g the European Corridors are <strong>in</strong>tersected, but also the provisi<strong>on</strong> for the transport and exchange of alternative goods via the rail and water transport. 1.8 Infrastructure System The importance of the <strong>in</strong>frastructure system for the accomplishment of the NSP 2030 visi<strong>on</strong>, <strong>Albania</strong> as energy “hub” for the regi<strong>on</strong> and a c<strong>on</strong>nect<strong>in</strong>g hub for Southeastern Europe, the spatial <strong>in</strong>tegrati<strong>on</strong> of the country, and the balanced distributi<strong>on</strong> of flows with<strong>in</strong> the territory depends <strong>on</strong> the further capacity development of the transport of people, goods, energy, and <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong>, as well as improvements <strong>in</strong> terms of time efficiency, cost reducti<strong>on</strong>, and distance shorten<strong>in</strong>g. Physical <strong>in</strong>frastructure, public transport, energy, and communicati<strong>on</strong> are of special importance to the NSP, as they directly affect the establishment, expansi<strong>on</strong>, and time relevance of a particular development. Other ec<strong>on</strong>omic and social <strong>in</strong>frastructure such as water-sanitati<strong>on</strong> supply system, treatment of wastewater, transport, disposal and treatment of waste, schools, hospitals are required to be established <strong>in</strong> accordance to the c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> of populati<strong>on</strong> and fulfillment of the requirements for the adequate achievement of a balanced spatial development of the country. Regi<strong>on</strong>alized waste management will be treated with priority, focus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> the efficient use, low-cost, and competitive management, <strong>in</strong> order to br<strong>in</strong>g developed sectors of the process<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> the country. Transport ʧ Draft<strong>in</strong>g of jo<strong>in</strong>t cross-border projects with focus <strong>on</strong> the <strong>in</strong>crease of <strong>in</strong>terc<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> and exchanges through the improvement of transport <strong>in</strong>frastructure. ʧ As for all sec<strong>on</strong>dary centers, a transport network enabl<strong>in</strong>g the fast c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> of those centers to the primary urban center, which is the center provid<strong>in</strong>g specialized and more advanced public services, is foreseen. ʧ Unificati<strong>on</strong> of the transport corridors with the energy corridors not <strong>on</strong>ly for the corridors <strong>in</strong> the plan to be drafted, but also the assessment of exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong>es. ʧ Forecast<strong>in</strong>g nati<strong>on</strong>al roads of historical and touristic character, e.g. revitalizati<strong>on</strong> of the historical road Via Egnatia as a tourist road, where the cooperati<strong>on</strong> with historians at this po<strong>in</strong>t is essential. ʧ Reducti<strong>on</strong> of the emissi<strong>on</strong> of pollutants (Co2) until 2030 through <strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong> technology, <strong>in</strong>novati<strong>on</strong> and capacity development (the target of Europe for 2030 is the reducti<strong>on</strong> of emissi<strong>on</strong>s up to 60% for the transport <strong>in</strong> general). Promoti<strong>on</strong> of the use of new envir<strong>on</strong>ment-friendly technologies <strong>in</strong> transport, as well as the use of electricity, hydrogen, and hybrid technologies for the l<strong>on</strong>g-distance transport of goods. ʧ Promoti<strong>on</strong> of public <strong>in</strong>ter-city transport and alternative transport via “soft” <strong>in</strong>frastructure”, bikeway and pedestrian path. Road Transport The NSP sets as a strategic priority the implementati<strong>on</strong> and f<strong>in</strong>alizati<strong>on</strong> of the strategic projects c<strong>on</strong>nect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Albania</strong> to Europe: Adriatic- I<strong>on</strong>ian Highway - Muriqan, Shkodër - Gjirokastër, Kakavije. Northern-southern highway (c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> between M<strong>on</strong>tenegro and Greece, from Hani i Hotit <strong>in</strong> Shkodër and Gjirokastër through the border po<strong>in</strong>t of Kakavije, with a length of 405 km); Landscape coastal road (touristic coastal road of a low envir<strong>on</strong>mental impact, c<strong>on</strong>nect<strong>in</strong>g the coastal localities : Velipojë - Shëngj<strong>in</strong>, Shëngj<strong>in</strong> - Patok, Patok - Durrës, Durrës - Divjakë, Divjakë - Seman, Seman - Vlorë, Vlorë - Dhërmi, Dhërmi