The regional government’s proposal sets a ten-kilometer radius, with Murcia as the center, and with homogeneous rates on all lines
The regional government has already drawn up what it has called an ‘advance document’ of the Metropolitan Transport Plan for the city of Murcia and its area of influence. In it, it determines an extension of the same of more than ten kilometers of radius, having as center the municipality of Murcia, and that includes other nine localities of its surroundings where around 672,000 people reside. They are Alcantarilla, Alguazas, Archena, Beniel, Ceutí, Las Torres de Cotillas, Lorquí, Molina de Segura and Santomera.
The delimited area is “polynuclear”, and special attention is paid to the points that are large generators of traffic, such as the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital and the Health campus, the universities and the West Industrial Estate, which is halfway between Alcantarilla and Murcia (in the district of San Ginés).
KEYS
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Rates
The same prices for all modes of transport used and with vouchers for cases of frequent use. -
Interconnection
Nodes are established to connect the bus lines between Murcia, Beniel, Alcantarilla and Molina de Segura. -
Intermodality
It is another of the great bets, especially between the railway, the tram and other services. -
672,000
Fusion of lines in cases where routes coincide, as occurs between districts of Murcia and nearby cities.
“It is a clear commitment to efficiency in management,” said sources from the regional Executive, which will present the document “as soon as possible” to the municipalities involved and to all the agents involved in public mobility. “We are working as quickly as possible; We hope that all the city councils of the metropolitan area are receptive to this initiative that citizens have been demanding for decades, ”they pointed out. A clear reference to the refusal, until now, of the Murcia City Council to participate, despite the fact that it agrees with the idea, until the Autonomous Community does not put figures on the project, that is, how much it intends to invest in its development.
The towns included are Alcantarilla, Alguazas, Archena, Beniel, Ceutí, Las Torres de Cotillas, Lorquí, Molina and Santomera.
Once it has been publicly presented, which the Ministry of Development and Infrastructure will do, a deadline will be set for allegations and suggestions, and after studying them and including those considered appropriate, it will be initially approved and put out to tender.
The intention of the Government of the Autonomous Community is to continue advancing, in parallel, in the creation of the Metropolitan Transport Area of Murcia with the local administrations.
This base document also proposes “the merger of lines” when there are coincidences in the routes or they overlap, as occurs in some between the districts of Murcia and the towns of Alcantarilla, Santomera and Beniel. Likewise, it establishes transport interconnection nodes between the bus lines that circulate between Murcia, Beniel, Alcantarilla and Molina de Segura.
«With this measure, more services can be provided with fewer resources», they emphasize from the Community, although when asked about the estimate of the savings that the plan would entail, they indicate that «it is early to specify it; It depends to a great extent on the final design that is negotiated with the different city councils.”
Intermodality is another of the strong points of this plan, especially between the railway, the tram and other metropolitan services. Regarding the possible extension of the tram lines, both within Murcia and to neighboring towns, which has been put on the table in a mobility forum, the regional Executive highlights the importance of this means of transport.
However, at this time in the process of forming the metropolitan area, the sources consulted avoid commenting on whether the regional government would be willing to participate financially in the execution of these works to promote the tramway: “A prior cost-benefit analysis is mandatory (which takes into account the social benefits, in accordance with the European methodology)».
“We make decisions based on data and not on opinions,” added the same sources.
Other key points of the document that will be presented for debate are the need to introduce measures that give priority to the circulation of buses in urban and interurban sections that serve as access and penetration in cities. A formula that is already being implemented is that of segregated bus lanes, totally separated from the rest of the road by curbs and specific signage.
At another time, the proposal proposes a “harmonization of rates” to make them homogeneous and proposes frequent use voucher systems for certain groups that work throughout the area and all modes of public transport.
The Metropolitan Transport Plan for Murcia and the municipalities of its urban belt designed by the regional government has had a first step with the launch, last December, of the first four Movibus concessions, which circulate between Murcia and Alcantarilla , Molina de Segura, Beniel and Santomera.
The Executive chaired by Fernando López Miras wants to continue advancing, since, “given the current economic and climatic conditions, more than ever we have to redouble our efforts to be efficient and effective in the provision of public services and move towards sustainable mobility” , they underline. In reference to the creation of the Metropolitan Area, the regional government considers that “it is the best technical solution to the mobility problems that the belt of the regional capital has been dragging.” And once again, he insists “in putting aside his politicization.”
An autonomous body will manage the common space
The document prepared by the Government of the Region of Murcia includes the creation of a Metropolitan Transport Authority to manage this common space. It will be an autonomous body, “with its own resources and management structure.” The transfer of powers to this entity will allow, defends the Executive, “a more effective and efficient governance.”
In general, with the plan designed, some mobility services for the city of Murcia are proposed “overcoming the fragmented vision of the administrative organization and, making an integrated and comprehensive proposal”, point out from the Executive of Fernando López Miras. “A complete transformation of the system is necessary.”
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