The final event of the Pass4Core project [Parking Areas implementing Safety and Security FOR (4) CORE network corridors in Italy] It was held in the Cargo City of Milan Malpensa Airport. This project, co-financed by the European Commission’s CEF Transport programme, aims to develop safe parking areas in Italy. The goal of this first initiative is to certify 1,357 parking spaces by 2025, with an additional 2,500 spaces planned in two other initiatives.
As a strategic logistics project, PASS4CORE is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the European transport network by providing safe and well-organized zones along the main corridors. This initiative not only improves the quality of services provided to truck drivers, but also supports the economic and logistical development of the surrounding area.
In the presence of Attilio Fontana, Governor of Lombardy; Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA Airports Milan; Alberto Melotti, PASS4CORE project coordinator at Consorzio ZAI; and T. Krizan, project advisor at CINEA, the new safe parking area for heavy vehicles was opened in Malpensa. The facility aims to improve safety and services in the shipping city.
By creating the first secure airport parking area, SEA Milan Airports, together with many partners, has committed to sustainability and safety. The project, coordinated by Consorzio ZAI, involves a total investment of €27.5 million, of which the European Union contributed €5.5 million.
The parking area is located in a strategic location, as Malpensa is one of the main logistics centers in Italy, and has an area of approximately 63 thousand square meters, of which 32 thousand square meters are dedicated to parking lots with 154 spaces for heavy vehicles. Access is controlled through entry and exit gates equipped with advanced monitoring systems to ensure the safety of drivers and vehicles. The powerful LED lighting system further enhances safety.
The facility includes nine spaces with electric charging stations for refrigerated vehicles and a single-storey building of 800 square meters featuring a panoramic terrace overlooking the Alps. This building offers amenities such as restrooms, showers, a security desk, a seating area with a cafeteria and a relaxation area.
The project began in June 2023 with preliminary works and tender procedures. Construction began in April 2024 and was recently completed.
“Safe and protected parking areas for heavy vehicles have become available along the road network in Italy thanks to the PASS4CORE initiative. Two projects are supported by the European Commission with €11.5 million from the Connecting Europe Facility programme. As a result, many safe and protected parking areas are already available, By mid-2025, there will be 24 guarded and secure parking areas available for truck drivers, creating a comprehensive network of safe parking lots,” said T. Krizan, project consultant At CINEA, the digital platform developed as part of PASS4CORE simplifies access to all safe parking areas in Italy “Safety is an essential element of EU road transport policies, and safe and certified parking areas are essential components. In this context, PASS4CORE contributes to the achievement of important EU goals: improving drivers’ well-being, reducing road accidents caused by fatigue, and alleviating freight-related crime and damage.
“As Consorzio ZAI and as the Italian inland ports association, we are proud to contribute to this multi-year initiative aimed at increasing driver and cargo safety in our country. Above all, we are pleased that we “We gave a social dimension to the road transport sector, which is often unfairly blamed as the main obstacle to sustainable freight transport.”
During the event, the strong synergy between PASS4CORE and the Malpensa H2 project was highlighted. The new green hydrogen refueling station, which will be built by Edison Next near the secure parking area for heavy vehicles in Malpensa, will feature state-of-the-art technology for the production and supply of green hydrogen on site.
Leveraging PNRR funds for its construction, this plant will serve as a strategic hub for the promotion of green hydrogen along major European transport corridors, making Malpensa a cutting-edge airport for sustainable mobility.
