The five subsidized projects include the expansion of the network of segregated bus and bike lanes
The Lottery Gordo of the Next Generation European funds has fallen again in Murcia, although it has been, as usual, widely distributed. The Official State Gazette (BOE) published this Wednesday the provisional resolution of the aid program for the implementation of low-emission zones and the digital and sustainable transformation of urban transport, convened by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. Within the list of projects that will be subsidized are, at the moment, five proposals presented by the City Council.
These projects add up to a total of 20,673,135 euros and were included in a first request. These are listed as ‘expansion of the network of reserved platforms for bike lanes’ (7.3 million); ‘technification, modernization and control of traffic management infrastructure’ (5.4 million), ‘project for the implementation of intelligent systems applied to urban transport’ (5.02 million), ‘expansion of the network of reserved platforms for to bus lanes’ (2.4 million) and ‘open data for the digitization of mobility and implementation of C-ITS services’ (471,000 euros).
Although the Consistory has not wanted to detail the content of these projects for the moment, beyond the mere enunciation, the possible expansion of the network of segregated bus lanes, which is yet to be implemented, is particularly striking. It must be remembered that the development of this network is based on a grant of 17 million from the Feder Funds 2014-2020, with which up to 41 kilometers of routes will be financed to link the capital with El Palmar and Espinardo, while creating a vertebrate circular ring through Gran Vía and the avenue of Fame.
These platforms, shared with conventional buses and taxis, are intended for the passage of BTR or rapid transit buses, which would be, in principle, electric mobility. Thinking about these vehicles, the Consistory had also requested in a second request, the purchase of electric and compressed gas buses worth 8.4 million euros. Finally, the Ministry has accepted financing for these of 2.4 million euros, but, given the exhaustion of the credit -1,000 million for the first call-, this amount has been left on a reserve list. In this way, this aid will only be effective if after the period of allegations there is a surplus remaining, counting, in addition, that it is preceded by another 35 better rated projects.
Returning to the layout of these platforms, the Neighborhood Association of Barriomar trusts that the coverage of part of the Alcantarilla road will be included in the 2.4 million destined for its execution, since the Department has indicated the inclusion of this route in the call. In fact, the Consistory already announced at the end of last summer that the requested funds could cover this route and some other surrounding roads such as Teniente Flomesta, Primero de Mayo, Juana Jugán, Pintor Almela Costa or part of the Alicante highway.
In order to execute these projects and take advantage of the funds from Europe, the City Council will have to get its act together, since they must be put out to tender before the month of May and awarded to the contractors, in an amount of at least 60% of the eligible cost -12, 4 million, in this case-, before the end of November. Otherwise, 5% penalties will be applied to advance payments, which will be made in April 2022 and March 2023. Likewise, the execution of the work must be closed before January 1, 2025.
The capital collects two out of every three euros destined for the Region
The municipal government wanted to emphasize yesterday that, of the 31,556,019.62 euros provisionally granted to municipalities in the Region, the Consistory of Murcia will initially obtain two out of three euros. “The different actions that make up the application are proposed in the line of advancement and generalization of the use of new technologies in mobility and transport, facilitating their availability and universal access,” they remarked from La Glorieta. To this they added that “the reorganization of collective urban public transport and its true effectiveness will provide users with a better commercial speed, which will facilitate a structuring and social cohesion between the city and its districts, while generating a true revolution on public transport.
Municipal sources add that the Consistory’s mobility strategy, which is benefiting from both Feder funds and Next Generation funds, has already received 40 million, if the 3.1 million euros granted for the creation of two urban transport nodes.