Specific objective

To promote  accessibility and cohesion through efficient and sustainable urban transport systems.

Operation rationale

In line with OPRD strategic focus on the urban growth poles this operation will support the development of sustainable urban transport systems in the major urban agglomeration centres  - the capital Sofia and the 6 largest cities Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Russe, Stara Zagora and Pleven.

The main target will be to make the urban transport more efficient and less time consuming as well as less energy consuming, to build more accessible secondary infrastructure for the public transport networks, and to introduce more environment-friendly types of urban transport. By promoting diversified urban transport systems, a more balance split will be achieved and the bad environmental impact will be reduced.

The concentration of the efforts on developing of high speed, attractive, accessible, environment friendly and convenient public urban transport will bring to avoid congestion and its consequent negative implications. To this end, it is subject of particular attention under this operation.

Buses and trolleys are the most popular mode of transport in cities and in the near future will maintain this role. Regretfully, bus transport is also the biggest polluter of the environment, and the course of its future development is directed toward reducing its environmental impact.

Providing an environment, where the pollution level doesn’t bring harmful impact on the human health and nature itself and to the promotion of the sustainable development of the cities, will lead to higher living standard and social welfare of the population. For that purpose, a good-quality urban environment is necessary for preventing the health of the citizens of the largest cities in the following aspects:
- Quality of the air:
- Reducing noise pollution:
- Development of sustainable urban transport systems, protecting the environment.

The present environmental noise, caused mainly by the transport, is one of the major environmental problems for the largest cities. The tendency of increasing the unfavourable acoustic conditions in the urban area is permanent. The traffic noise accounts to about 80-85% of the overall noise load in large cities. The problems, directly related to noise pollution, caused by road transport, are: lack of built noise protecting barriers, inefficient traffic organization, poorly maintained road network and vehicles as well as some shortcomings in urban planning. As an additional source of noise should be mentioned the small production enterprises (motor-car workshops, enterprises for production of woodwork, etc.) situated in the cities.

The existing system of control for public urban transport processes is not sufficiently effective and does not allow for operational and prospective decisions to be made concerning its organization and management. Implementation of automated systems for traffic management and control of the transport process within cities will ensure improvement in the quality of public urban transport services. Besides achieving increased regularity of traffic and exercised control in real time, the systems would allow recording and control of trips, route loads and consequent optimization and would minimize driver error. Implementation of new systems for charging and obtaining information from passengers in public urban transport units would allow the development of a flexible tariff policy, based on the assessments of customers using the transport service.

Since urban transport is one of the largest environmental polluters, the regional development policy will support through this operation the implementations of integrated strategies for environmentally clean transport. More efficient use of existing infrastructure will be achieved by strengthening environmentally friendly public transport systems.

An integral part of integrated urban transport systems are also the street network, bicycle and pedestrian lanes, parking lots. In order to facilitate traffic in central urban areas, it is necessary to improve the parking organization and increase the use of alternative types of transport that are to replace private motor vehicles. herefore, for development of urban transport systems these elements of the urban environment should be taken into account and interventions planned accordingly upon them when necessary.

The integrated approach for development of urban transport systems will be favoured.

List of indicative activities to be supported

• Development of traffic management plans and establishment of automated systems for traffic management and control through introduction and improvement of Traffic Management and Information Systems (e.g. Traffic Operationa Centres, Central Computer Systems, Vehicle Detector Stations, Changeable Message Sighs, Ramp Metering Stations, communications sub - systems);
• Improvement of basic infrastructure access and affordability to the city bus stations – stops platforms for the disabled groups, removing the orientation and information barriers, light and audio announcements of stops, clear visual marking of the lines and readable timetables even for those with imperfect eyesight, information for the blind etc.;
• Renovation of the transport infrastructure - the socket and catenary’s cable network, improving stations, repair and maintenance facilities and equipment;
• Development of infrastructure and route networks of new destinations to remote residential areas;
• Provision of protection system for noise reduction and noise screening - construction of tram tracks with anti-vibration and anti-noise elements;
• Development and improvement of urban public transport systems using buses, trams, trolleys that are compliant with European legislation on harmful emissions from engines or measures to increase the use of renewable/alternative sources of energy in urban transport.Rehabilitation and reconstruction of street networks, including video surveillance systems, etc. in relation to development of the integrated urban transport system;
• / reconstruction/ rehabilitation of pedestrian lanes and sidewalks, construction of bicycle lanes and alleys, pedestrian zones, alleys and underpasses for pedestrians and bicyclists, including related activities as placement of indicative signs, marking, etc. as part of the integrated urban transport system;
• related to parking organization in proximity to crucial nodes of public urban transport

Beneficiaries

Specific Beneficiaries - Municipalities of the 7 major cities in Bulgaria (the capital Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Russe, Pleven, Stara Zagora).

Last modified: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 2:41 PM