Of primary importance, are the results of the Traffic Study updated to 2024. 
 The overall traffic between Sicily and the rest of Italy in recent years, between 2011 and 2022, reported growth of 21% for passengers and 24% for freight, despite the economic crisis of 2010-2012 and the effects of Covid-19.
For forecasts of mobility trends in the period 2023-2032, we based our projections on the observed trends from recent years up to and including 2022, assuming substantial continuity with current trends. An average annual growth rate of 1.5% for passenger mobility and 2.0% for freight mobility was assumed.
Based on the dynamics expected to characterize demand for transport after the opening of the Bridge, a conservative forecast predicts a constant growth rate of 1% from 2032 to 2061 for both passengers and freight. With the opening of the Bridge, half of the passengers traveling between Sicily and the rest of Italy will use it, while air transport will remain the primary mode of transportation (46%), although it will lose market share to rail, which is expected to gain significantly (+24%). Rail is forecasted to become the second most popular mode of connection between Sicily and mainland Italy, capturing a modal share of 27% of passenger traffic. Specifically, rail share remains relatively low for connections with central and northern Italy (18.4%) but rises to 59.2% for mobility between Sicily and Calabria.
In terms of local and regional mobility, construction of the Bridge will drive significant growth in rail usage, as a substantial shift from ship transport to rail occurs. This change will bring clear benefits for users, improving service levels in terms of travel times, geographical coverage, and integration with the regional transport network. Moreover, it will represent a much more sustainable environmental choice than other modes of transport, aligning with the European Union’s Green Deal goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050.