The role of light rail systems in urban regionalisation processes and in defining the bioregional vision of the Pontine plain in Italy

Urban regionalisation or new regionalism is a land transformation process that involves the emergence of new sprawl settlements in the European Union and North America. These settlements are often composed of residential or micro-productive units that cause ecological fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and spatial reorganisation. This process challenges conventional spatial analytical and planning frameworks and calls for a new approach. This paper argues that bioregional units which account for complex human-environment interactions and the sustainability of natural resources and ecosystems can provide a new analytical and planning framework. Bioregions represent the main living environments for people, and mobility is a key driver shaping their lifestyle choices. This paper explores the role of light rail systems (LRSs) in enhancing the sustainability and well-being of bioregions, using the Pontine bioregion in Italy as a case study. It reviews the bioregional theory and applies the bioregional framework to the Pontine plain presenting the main features of the Pontine bioregion, including its internal and external urban relationships. Building on these analyses, the paper then discusses the proposal of a new railway network system that integrates LRSs as strategic elements for efficient mobility, urban regeneration, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability of the bioregional territory.