Step closer to tram transport


The tram transport project has been brought to life yet again in Skopje. Quite unexpectedly, the end of 2018 in the country’s capital was marked by the announcement that it will not remain just a desire for the citizens of Skopje. Lost in the past ten years, this kind of city transport has been so far offered as one of the most serious alternatives to solving chaos in public transportation. Only one line from Gjorce Petrov to Novo Lisice, according to estimates by the city authorities, can replace 40% of the bus lines of the move, which is not at all underestimated. Especially in the current state of city transport. It been long since the new buses were new, the public transport company has neither service nor spare parts to repair the Chinese and Ukrainian vehicles. All this falls on the back of the citizens, forced to travel in unseemly conditions, while the loans for the purchase of buses worth 80 million euros are still repaid from their pockets.

Therefore, the first impression from the secret mission of Mayor Petre Silegov for the preparation of a project, together with his Zagreb colleagues from the ZET, is that the tram is not such an expensive project. And we, the citizens of Skopje, are used to pay for luxuries, expensive polystyrene foam, marble, tons of bronze, iron, pillars, bridges, lions, which cost us over half a billion euros, therefore, the estimates that we can pay for comfort in traffic with only 150 million euro came as a pleasant surprise.

Therefore, citizens of Skopje rightfully wonder why tram transportation was not done earlier. After only a few years, it became clear to us that the purchase of Chinese and Ukrainian buses did not solve the issue of improving public transport on long journeys at all. The needs of Skopje and its citizens are obviously bigger and more serious, so this issue should be addressed.

City transport has not long since followed the growth of the city, and as a result, there is a great dissatisfaction among the citizens, the multiplication of vehicles and enormous air pollution. And now, we are on a step to board a tram.

It remains only for the city authorities to be consistent with the promises that this year will be dedicated to the realization of all the infrastructure that has been publicly or secretly drawn in 2018. But also to remain firmly committed to the projects they announce, although it will not be easy for them complete, nor will they receive applause from all parties. The mere mention of the tram has already split the public into ‘in favor’ and ‘against’ groups. Perhaps thesis of those against that the tram is the means of transportation of the 20th century and that we were able to get something better holds water, but let’s be realistic – our city is not in no way prepared for ultra-modern solutions. The idea came along with the opportunity to close down the city center traffic, an option that many Skopje citizens desired for a long time, but also as a good opportunity to reduce the need for vehicles in urban areas and give it a chance for cleaner air in one of the most polluted cities in the world.

It is therefore very important that Silegov is able to withstand the pressure of the public, and not retreat before the divided opinions of the citizens. The fact is that without a sacrifice and a disruption of comfort we will not get a tram, and therefore a better public transport. Citizens of Skopje have personally experienced how traffic looks like when only one street is closed and it is clear that with this growth intensity of the number of vehicles the city will not be able to function for a long time.

It would be even worse when new building fronts will be opened on the two of the busiest city boulevards, Partizanska and Jane Sandanski, where the tram line will pass. Driving will be a nightmare in the next two years at least, and, of course, Silegov will be the one to take the most blame for this. In that direction, the Government’s support, especially in the financial sector, is crucial, so that the project can be completed faster and more efficiently, and the benefits from it be felt as soon as possible.

Sanja Naumovska