Vitoria-Gasteiz: New Public Transport Network

Can a transport system be so well integrated into city planning that it is only noticeable when it is needed? Yes, it can! And the capital of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, is an example of this. Since 2008, the city has been working on a transportation network that will bring about a lasting change in mobility. The project consists of three steps. In the first step, a 1.7-km streetcar line was extended into the residential areas. In the second step, the streetcar network was extended by 2.5 km to better connect the residential areas. In order to be able to serve the entire route, a 10.5-km-long network with all-electric BRT buses was created as a supplement. Thus, the old transportation network, which included 18 bus lines, became a new one with one tram and nine bus lines. The lower number of lines does not mean that the city districts are less well connected, but rather the other way around. The results speak for themselves: 70% increase in satisfaction with the new public transport network ; higher frequency on weekdays (11 min instead of 20 min) and on weekends (16 min instead of 26 min); reduction of travel time up to 20%. The new transport network fights against public transport clich?s and makes public transport a competitive alternative to the car. Keep it up!