ZTM sets itself the aims of shortening travel time, and, as a result, making the public transport for the Warsaw dwellers more attractive. One of the conditions to achieve them is giving the public transport vehicles more priority rights. For this purpose, various city units undertook cooperation.
New bus lanes are organized for buses and there are special actions carried out to facilitate the trams passing the junction. Although the above changes comply with the strategy of the sustainable development of transport, they have to follow the in-depth analysis that will include the situations of various road users. It is possible to obtain passenger-benefit results, but it also requires time and funds. The solution to give more priority rights for transport vehicles does not require funds.
The tram network is important but is one of many elements of Warsaw public transport. Tram transport makes up approximately 24 per cent of the total transport activity. Daily, 570.8 thousand, i.e. 21 per cent of passengers travel by trams (bus transport makes up 56 per cent of the transport activity, and 49 per cent of passengers transport). Thus, planning the priorities for trams, the rest of the public transport should be taken into account. Other actions that encourage passengers to use public transport such as, Park and Ride areas, integration of the stops and train station where passengers can change means of transport, extending the Joint Ticket and SKM network range, or development of passenger dynamic information system should also be carried out. The investment of the II Underground Line construction is also significant. All these initiatives are jointly undertaken by different city units, including ZTM. It should be emphasized that the condition for passengers’ interest is the development of the whole public transport infrastructure, and at the same time improvement of the transport offer (higher frequency of the lines and better travel conditions) across the entire Warsaw agglomeration.
An average tram speed in Warsaw is 17.4 km per hour and it can be compared with other Polish cities. Additional advantage of the tram transport in Warsaw is the separation of 95 per cent of the tram tracks from the roads used by private cars. According to scientist, that speed can be increased. However, when planning the priority right, a special analyses should be made to prevent hasty decisions. One of the solutions is a improvement of the traffic lights program. However, it has to follow among others, examinations of real traffic conditions and a balance of profits and losses for the whole public transport including changes for the private transport. Too hasty decisions concerning the priorities for trams may result in slowing down not only private cars but also bus traffic. To sum up, the decisions should be rational and dependent on the location of a given tram track.
The activities to speed up tram transport in Warsaw have been carried out for some time. They are applied to the traffic on single junctions as well as to the more complex traffic routes. The preparatory works for correction of the traffic lights system at Al. Jerozolimskie are being performed to adjust the traffic that has changed after a bus lane has been organized there. Preparation of a document with directives and standards for tram priority in Warsaw urban complex is another joint task.
ZTM cooperates among others, with the Warsaw Tramway and supports its activities. The company carries out many projects that plan to introduce the tram priority for the following routes:
1. along the routes – Połczyńska – Powstańców Śląskich – al. Reymonta – Wólczyńska – Nocznickiego – Młociny and Górczewska. Implementation during 2011-2012.
2. Piaski – Kielecka (Rakowiecka)
Piaski – Broniewskiego – al. Jana Pawła II – Chałubińskiego – al. Niepodległości – Rakowiecka – Kielecka. Implementation untill 2013.
3. Targowa – al. Zieleniecka
Section from Dw. Wileński to Waszyngtona Roundabout. Implementation during 2011-2012.
4. Dw. Wileński – Żerań Wsch.
The section of 11 Listopada – rondo Żaba – Odrowąża – Budowlana – Rembielińska – Annopol. Implementation in 2013.
5. ul. Marymoncka
Implementation in 2013.
6. ul. Obozowa
Implementation during 2013-2014.
7. Linia na Tarchomin
Implementation during 2012-2013.
Additionally, there is a plan to modernize traffic lights programs along the tram route 9 (Gosławek-Okęcie) and at single junctions.
It is expected that implementation of the projects will enable shortening the time to cover a route by few minutes. In consequence, tram schedule speed should increase up to 20 km per hour over the next few years.
Over 32.5 kilometers of bus lanes (plus over 12.5 kilometers roads with priorities for buses), 4.8 kilometers of a tram and bus lane on Trasa W-Z as well as 95 per cent of separate tram tracks are also the result of the activities carried out to give the public transport priority.
Published 14 October 2011
Last modified 3 June 2019
