Bologna's road system has been under scrutiny in recent days. After the new 30 km/h limit came into force in the city, protests and inconvenience for motorists began, with the first fines for exceeding the new speeds. Palazzo d'Accursio, however, seems, at least for the moment, intent on continuing on its path despite having already received a first “warning” from the Ministry of Transport ready to have the Emilian capital review the law. Precisely on the subject of new roads, however, the Municipality of Bologna has announced the arrival of the Metrobus, a new connection line from the city to some urban centers on the metropolitan outskirts thanks to electric vehicles.
High frequency electric buses
The project was financed with 27.4 million euros from the Development and Cohesion Fund, following the agreement signed by the Emilia Romagna Region and the Government. In the Municipality's plans there is therefore the desire to create special lanes with dedicated traffic light systems which can thus reduce the travel times of dedicated electric buses, capable of traveling on seven routes, with the first to be financed being the Bologna-Baricella. Travel times will be reduced to try to guarantee punctuality and reliability of the service, with trips every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes in other time slots.
Service integrated into the mobility plan
As explained by the Municipality of Bologna, the Metrobus network will be made up of seven infrastructured metropolitan corridors designed to guarantee fast and frequent bus connections on routes not served by the Metropolitan Railway Service, a project that is integrated into the development strategy of Metropolitan Public Transport (TPM) identified by the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (PUMS) for the improvement of air quality through the development of sustainable mobility systems.
High frequency and high capacity
The first Metrobus line on the Bologna-Baricella route will be divided into two services, one “high speed” and one “high capacity”. The first will allow you to cover the entire Bologna-Baricella route (26 km) in less than 40 minutes, with 18 stops at the main points for a total of 86 daily trips and will have a frequency of 10 minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes in the rest of the day. The “high capacity” service, however, will connect Bologna and Granarolo dell'Emilia (over 12 km) in 25 minutes, operating at all 17 current extra-urban stops, even those not served by the “high-speed” Metrobus. The 68 daily trips will have a frequency of 15 minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes during the rest of the day. The services will be guaranteed by 18-metre articulated electric buses with internal fittings that guarantee high comfort on the various routes. The Metrobus corridor will be built on the existing roadway in order to guarantee greater speed and reliability of the service through interventions on the routes, on the technological and infrastructural equipment, on the choice of suitable vehicles and technologies, which will meet environmental and economic sustainability criteria.
Interventions for the Metrobus
To facilitate mobility and not create inconvenience to vehicular traffic, technological interventions are envisaged which also include specific signage: these include reserved lanes but also the modification of traffic and circulation regulations, the reorganization of accumulation and turning lanes at intersections , the introduction of priority traffic light systems, also to protect pedestrian crossings, the redevelopment of all platforms, the installation of shelters with equipment that improve comfort, safety and information for users. Work will also be done on the road surface to optimize the spaces and areas shared between the different modes of transport.
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