The Communications and Works Ministry will consult with Nicosia municipalities to discuss a request by Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou to play a major part in reorganising public transport.
Although the Ministry set September 1, 2009 as a deadline for starting the revamp, there is now a possibility that the intervention may change the project’s timelines.
Mavrou said on Tuesday the Nicosia municipality wanted to be involved in revamping the public transport system in the capital.
“The Minister of Communications has set a deadline…to start signing contracts with private companies for the improved bus service,” said Aristotelis Savva, from the Public Transport Upgrade Team at the Ministry.
“If the Mayors’ proposals have timelines that are parallel to the Ministry’s plans, then this deadline will not change.”
Savva said a meeting had been scheduled between the Minister of Communications and various Nicosia mayors so that they could explain their intentions and the details of their proposal.
“Until we know what these are, we cannot come to any conclusion on whether they will be adopted, and if so, whether they will change our timelines,” said Savva.
The process of public bidding for public transport contracts, however, has already started, a move that was criticised by Mavrou as premature, as the state has not yet determined what the needs in each area.
The Ministry’s immediate plan is merely to implement an improve bus routes, with the possibility of boosting the fleet at a later date.
“This will not happen within the year, unless large funding is allocated,” said Savva. “The state has offered €200,000 for upgrading public transport, in all areas where such effort is made on the island, and not just for Nicosia,” he added.
Savva also confirmed that the Ministry was looking into the possibility of bringing trams to Nicosia. “In relation to trams, there is a study in motion specifically for Nicosia, which is partly funded by the EU. The study examines the current traffic situation and will present conclusions for the new design of public transport in the city. The study includes an examination of the possibility of bringing tram lines,” he said.
Such a move, however, will be neither fast nor cheap, but the Ministry believes that trams may ultimately bring improved service and many other benefits.
“People should be aware that when any city makes the decision to import trams, there are many things that need to be done in terms of infrastructure. So from the moment the decision is made to import trams, at least five years have to pass before they start operating. In addition to the infrastructure requirements, trams are also more expensive than buses,” Savva said.
“However, they provide a totally different quality of service. If we examine the issue from a quality of life and quality of service perspective, and not just from a financial cost perspective, trams will seriously upgrade the level of public transportation. Trams also typically raise the level of use of public transport, bringing it up to 40-50 per cent”.
