Lisbon

At the end of the first decade of the new millennium, in times of widespread uncertainty, Lisbon is facing some major challenges. On the one hand, it has to deal with a number of problems already visible at the end of the last century, such as the continuous reduction of resident population, increasing urban and social imbalances, low levels of mobility and accessibility, the steady and persistent degradation of the built environment, and an inadequate decision-making system. On the other hand, Lisbon has to deal with a number of structural infrastructure projects that were designed before the global financial crisis. Examples are the new international airport, the third bridge over the Tagus River, the high-speed-rail project linking the Portuguese capital with Oporto on the North and with Madrid (Spain) on the East, and the trunk road network at the metropolitan scale. In addition, there are demands for planning activity to provide more effective products, processes and results, both at the municipal and local scales.