A large-sized FUA with a high degree of complexity (covering the city of Rzeszów and 15 neighbouring communes).
Rzeszow FUA in numbers:
| Number of inhabitants: | 398,267 (of which 197,181 in Rzeszów itself) |
| Number of communes: | 16 (including the city of Rzeszów and 15 communes) |
| ROF area: | 1,211 km² |
| Population density: | 328.9 people/km² |
The Rzeszów Functional Area is a dynamically developing cluster of 16 local government units centred around the city of Rzeszów, which serves as its core. It comprises the city of Rzeszów and 15 surrounding urban, urban-rural, and rural communes. Covering an area of 1,211 km², the ROF is home to nearly 400,000 inhabitants, with approximately half residing in Rzeszów—the capital of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The area is marked by the rapid development of transport infrastructure, intensive suburbanisation processes, and increasing economic and academic significance.
Documents and strategies in place:
- Sustainable Transport Development Strategy until 2030
- National Road Safety Programme 2021–2030
- Development Strategy of the City of Rzeszów until 2025
- Study of conditions and directions of spatial development of the city of Rzeszów.
- Public Transport Sustainability Plan 2021–2030.
- Development Strategy of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship – Podkarpackie 2030.
- Rzeszów Functional Area spatial development plan.
The adopted SUMP is consistent with the above-mentioned documents.
Main stakeholders:
| Local government units implementing a common supra-local strategy | City of Rzeszów. Urban commune of Łańcut. Urban-rural communes: Boguchwała, Błażowa, Głogów Małopolski, Tyczyn. Rural communes: Chmielnik, Czarna, Czudec, Hyżne, Krasne, Łańcut, Lubenia, Świlcza, Trzebownisko. |
| Road managers and public transport operators | Public Transport Authority in Rzeszów (ZTM) MPK Rzeszow, Subcarpathian Agglomeration Railway (PKA), Polregion MKS |
| Non-governmental organizations | Bikes.Rzeszow.pl Mission Mobility Foundation Rzeszow Bicycle Association Poland Without Barriers Foundation Green Federation “Gaja” – Subcarpathia branch |
| Educational institutions | Rzeszów University of Technology named after Ignacy Łukasiewicz University of Rzeszów University of Information Technology and Management based in Rzeszów WSPIA Rzeszów University of Applied Sciences |
| Entrepreneurs and institutions | PRATT & WHITNEY Rzeszow SA ASSECO Poland S.A. WSK Rzeszów Metallurgical Plant Sp. z o. o. BAUSCH Health Poland Sp. z o. o. KRUSZGEO SA Besta Construction Company Sp. z o. o. Teknia Rzeszow Sp. z o. o. Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 2 named after St. Jadwiga the Queen in Rzeszów Fryderyk Chopin University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów |
| Residents – social leaders | Residents’ representatives |
Characteristics of the Transport System:
- Developed public transport (buses, intelligent transport systems – ITS)
- The Podkarpacka Agglomeration Railway connecting Rzeszów with neighbouring towns
- Network of national and express roads (A4, S19)
- Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport
Needs of the Functional Area:
- Integration of the public transport system (rail, urban and suburban buses) – creation of a coherent, functional communication network.
- Development of the Podkarpacka Agglomeration Railway and increasing railway accessibility in the ROF communes.
- Construction and expansion of Park&Ride and Kiss&Ride infrastructure – supporting transfers and reducing the number of cars in the center of Rzeszów.
- Expansion of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, especially in the suburban area and on the outskirts of the city.
- Introduction and development of shared mobility services ( car sharing , bike sharing , scooters per minute).
Institutional capacity assessment:
- Strong management centre: The leader of the ROF is the City of Rzeszów, which has developed administrative and organisational structures, including a specialised Rzeszów City Development Office.
- Good experience in cooperation projects: the ROF operates on the basis of a formal Inter-municipal Agreement and the established ROF Association, which facilitates the coordination of supra-local activities.
- Advanced strategic planning: There are a number of up-to-date strategic documents (development strategies, transport plans), which demonstrate a systemic approach to mobility management .
Interesting facts:
- Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport handles increasing passenger and cargo traffic.
- Urban Lab Rzeszów was established – a centre for social consultations and urban innovations.
- The city has hired a bicycle officer to support the development of bicycle infrastructure.