K. Ah. Karamanlis: Plan with 4 + 4 moves for a solution in the traffic of Athens

The plan of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for the treatment of traffic in the Attica Basin was presented by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Costas Karamanlis, in his speech at the 5th Autoforum.

As he explained, this plan answers the problems of today, but also meets the needs of tomorrow. It lays the foundations for an Attica easier, more accessible, more humane. And it is developing in 4 + 4 moves: 4 moves that have already been made, for immediate results, and 4 moves to address the problems of tomorrow, so that Athens does not become an inaccessible city.

Specifically, these 4 + 4 moves, as presented by Mr. Karamanlis, are the following:

4 moves with immediate results:

1. “Clean Ring”. An effective measure, which was decided when the traffic increased again after the quarantine and which yielded some immediate results. “We have reduced the number of vehicles in the city center and closed the windows for excessive and abusive exceptions. The permanent carousel of the Greek political system: Getting licenses to circulate around the world. “The environmental burden will be significantly reduced”, noted Mr. Karamanlis.

2. More buses on the road. Athens – like Thessaloniki – is one of the few cities in the world that has strengthened its urban transport fleets amid a pandemic. “We received about 850 buses on the road and today we have 1,350,” said the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.

3. Reinforcement of fixed track means.

Mr. Karamanlis reminded that:

• We handed over three new metro stations in the extension to Piraeus.

• In Metro Lines 2 and 3, we have 39 trains from 32 in 2019.

• The tender for the upgrade of 70 vehicles of Line 1 is in progress.

• We are steadily strengthening the Tram: we brought it back to Syntagma, we delivered 12 new stops in the center of Piraeus, we have launched 25 additional, new, state-of-the-art trains in the network.

4. Modern framework for micro-mobility and urban mobility. With the bill of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, the way was opened for the Local Government to proceed without obstacles and bureaucracy in the formation of a more sustainable and greener urban environment.

“Are these enough to deal with traffic? Definitely not. But they are breaths. Steps, albeit small, but even in the right direction. And most importantly, they are not fragmentary movements but parts of a well-thought-out, comprehensive plan,” he said. Mr. Karamanlis.

+4 moves for tomorrow in Attica:

1. New, environmentally friendly buses are coming. “We are in the final stage for the supply of the first 650 new, modern vehicles, having given special emphasis to e-mobility. They will start strengthening the fleet from the beginning of 2023”, said Mr. Karamanlis.

2. Major metro projects are being done again in Attica.

• Metro Line 4. The largest public infrastructure project currently underway in Europe, amounting to 1.2 billion. The first new line under construction in the capital after twenty whole years. The first section, from the Veikou Grove to Goudi, with 15 new stations, will serve some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Athens. It is ensured that the green balance in the city will not only decrease, but will increase.

At the same time, the design maturity for the future extensions of Line 4 is progressing, with priority to Maroussi and Northern Suburbs, areas with a large flow of workers and a huge traffic load.

• In a few months, the last three new stations of the extension of Line 3 to Piraeus will be delivered: Maniatika, Municipal Theater and Piraeus. “Finally, we connect the largest airport with the largest port in the country,” said Mr. Karamanlis.

• Extension of Line 2 to the Western Suburbs: “We are proceeding at a very fast pace in order to be able to auction the three new stations by the end of the year, Palatiani, Ilion and ‘Agios Nikolaos”, noted the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.

• At the same time, the Suburban Railway of West Attica enters. A project with secured funding from the Recovery Fund, which will be contracted next semester and will serve the areas from Ano Liossia to Megara.

Respectively, the process of the Competitive Dialogue for the Expansion of the Suburban Railway to the East, ie to the ports of Rafina and Lavrio, is progressing satisfactorily.

3. Major road projects make the new road map of Attica.

• The extension of Kymi Avenue has already been auctioned and its implementation is expected to begin by the beginning of 2023.

• The procedures for the extensions of Attiki Odos to Lavrio and Rafina are in progress.

Respectively, the studies for the undergrounding of the Ilioupolis tunnel, which will give breath to the Southern Suburbs, are progressing.

• In the Western Suburbs, the project of completion of the Egaleo Ring Road and the Scaramanga Junction is at an advanced stage of procedures, which will significantly unload Athens Avenue and Schistos Avenue.

4. Establishment of a Metropolitan Body. In order to deal with the fragmentation of responsibilities, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport took the initiative – adopting the proposal of the Association of Transportation Specialists of Greece – for the establishment of the Metropolitan Body. So that at last, as is the case in other European countries, all the co-competent bodies sit at a table and solve all the issues concerning the traffic.

Where is the traffic due?

Mr. Karamanlis also spoke about the causes of traffic and briefly stated: First, that the traffic problem is observed in all major cities of the world. Secondly, he referred to the complete absence in previous years of central planning based on the modern needs of the capital. And thirdly, he underlined the absolute divergence of responsibilities for all the critical issues that affect traffic.

Indicatively stated that:

-The Traffic Management Center belongs to the jurisdiction of the Attica Region.

-The Central Highways, such as Kifissos, also belong to the Attica Region. The local road networks belong to the competence of the Municipalities.

-The urban and spatial planning issue of Athens, a huge issue, belongs to the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

-The management and planning of traffic lights in the Region.

-The control of illegal parking, in the Municipalities and in the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

-The rules for the loading and unloading and the supply of the stores, a little gray zone, belong to the Region and the Municipalities.

-The control for the illegal traffic of vehicles on the bus routes, at the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

-The design and implementation of major projects at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport stressed that each of these bodies does its job, but in fragments and without often having the necessary tools. He stressed that the problem is that over the years a labyrinthine, heavy and complex system has been created, which can not follow the social and structural changes that are created in a prefecture “in constant motion” such as Attica.

Mr. Karamanlis finally pointed out that the plan for the traffic of Athens is part of an integrated policy of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, which serves critical national goals such as road safety, enhancing electricity and protecting the environment. He underlined that he personally believes in good cooperation with all institutions, but also the citizens, so that every day a part of this plan becomes a reality.

A corresponding traffic plan has been prepared and is being implemented for Thessaloniki as well.