Although Moscow has a well-developed transport system, with efficient connections between public transport modes, the authorities are every day more concerned with launching new projects and programmes as the current system will not manage to face future mobility demands.
With a population of 10.5 million people and increasing, Moscow’s authorities are aware of the need to develop the transport network and to make current transport services efficient. In the next three years, Moscow (and its region) plans to complete the projects on rail infrastructure development and integration of the system for delivery of rapid services. Investments amount to billions of dollars and include the construction of rail infrastructure, including metro and tram works. The authorities announced plans to build metro lines to double the existing network (250 km would be constructed); a new plan is promoted to meet the passengers’ mobi-lity needs: this autumn, the authorities presented a new plan for the Moscow Region which includes the construction of a rapid tram line to link all included areas. Under the project, 50 stations serving 245 km of line will be built, 26% of which will be suspended. The whole project requires investments worth RUB 204 Billion (USD 6.4 Billion), of which Moscow authorities grant a minimum RUB 14.6 Billion (around EUR 450 Million) and the fe-deral budget will allocate RUB 108 Billion (USD 3.3 Billion). The rest of the amount will come from non-budget funds and from a strategic partner, whose identity has not yet been revealed. “Private investors could major the economic effect of the project by developing the area around the transport hubs that are adjacent to the new network”, declared Alexander Ovanesov, member of the Strategy Partners Group.
The line will connect the cities most densely populated near the capital and will provide connections to the airport, the travel time being significantly reduced due to the traffic speed of trams: 45 to 80 km/h.
The project is due to be completed in 2022, but pilot sections, to the east and south of the city will be commissioned in the timeframe 2018-2019.
“By intersecting the road and railway network, trams should reduce congestion in Moscow and its region and will reduce the intensity of traffic flows from and into the city, at peak hours”, said Moscow Region Transportation Minister Alexandra Zaitseva. The line will reduce congestion between the capital and the surrounding towns by 15%, while the traffic flow between the airport and the towns will be reduced 2 or 3 times.
The next five years could be decisive for the transport system in the Russian capital and its region. USD 54 Billion could be invested in the development of infrastructure projects, according to Konstantin Lyashkevich, head of the regional road management agency. The money will come from local and regional sources, the state budget and private investors. “Financing will be dedicated to improving the transport network, to the construction of new metro lines, as well as airports and other transport projects which contribute to the optimization of traffic”, said Lyashkevich.
National and regional authorities plan to improve railway infrastructure and to construct five new separate lines to complete the railway network and facilitate passenger and freight transport.
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