Announces a design competition
“The tram is needed for Kaunas not as a separate vehicle, but as part of the entire public transport system. Our goal is convenience and speed. It must be understood that this will not be a quick process. This is a plan forward, for the future of Kaunas,” says the city mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis, adding that EU funds are planned to be used for this.
This week, the city council approved the update of the Sustainable Mobility Plan. It was coordinated with the Ministry of Transport and other stakeholders.
It is planned to announce a design competition for the tram line in the near future. It is estimated that the design work may take about one and a half years.
Initially, a shorter route is planned, which would run along Šiaurės and Savanorių avenues. At least two traffic lanes in both directions are planned to be left for car traffic.
“For a city the size of Kaunas, the tram is an optimal high-capacity mode of transport. The introduction of the tram would not only be the implementation of a new mode of transport but also the strengthening of the entire public transport network,” adds Kaunas deputy mayor Andrius Palionis.
The tram line in the busiest parts of Kaunas could take over some of the passengers currently served by buses and trolleybuses. In addition, there is currently a trolleybus depot on Šiaurės Avenue, which could be expanded to create a depot.
Flows taken into account
A high-capacity public transport study commissioned by the municipality evaluated four possible tram routes.
When analyzing the options, passenger flows, directions of residents’ movement, city street infrastructure, and possibilities to ensure smooth communication were taken into account.
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When planning the first tram line, the infrastructure issue would also be addressed. The final cost and technical solutions will only be known after the project is prepared.
First terminals – next year
In Kaunas, the planning of the tram line is taking place together with a broader public transport network restructuring.
According to the updated Sustainable Mobility Plan, the city plans to install six public transport terminals in different neighborhoods. Different direction routes would converge there.
Passengers arriving from the city outskirts could conveniently transfer at the terminals to more frequently running main public transport lines. This would reduce the number of overlapping routes.
The first terminals are planned on Raudondvaris and Žemaičių roads. The necessary infrastructure is planned to be in place next year.
In the future, similar locations are planned on Savanorių, Karaliaus Mindaugo avenues, as well as in Aleksotas and Panemunė.
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