Turku tramway report recommends a two-branched line

Everybody has a possibility to voice their opinions about the tramway general plan by 8 June 2015 at www.turunraitiotie.info (site in Finnish).

Turku has grown an average of 1600 citizens per year during the last five years. The aim is that the growth will continue and Turku will have 210 000 citizens in 2035. Together with the growth of the region this would mean a 25% increase in travel rates. The tramway opens up possibilities in attracting investments, responding to growth and changing the urban image of Turku, as well as in developing long term land use and the traffic system.

Lines from the Market Square to big suburbs

The Turku tramway general plan has been designed for a three-branched network: from the Market Square to Runosmäki, Varissuo and Skanssi. It has been estimated that by 2035 new homes for nearly 20 000 citizens will be built along these three tramway branches. Notable locations for land use development possibilities are Itäharju, Kupittaa, Matkakeskus and Skanssi.

The effects of the tramway have been compared to a bus system similar to what is currently in use, as well as to a “super bus system” in which the lines would be run with double-articulated buses or other equivalents to the tramway.

If the tramway was to be built, it would decrease car traffic especially on the Cathedral Bridge (Tuomiokirkkosilta) and in the Old Great Square area (Vanha Suurtori). It would also positively affect the employment situation of the region (approximately 4750 person-years). 

 

 

Super bus the most attractive choice

Based on the comparisons, a two-branched Varissuo-Runosmäki tram line would be socioeconomically cost-effective and would best meet the objectives set by the Turku City Board. However, the super bus would be even more cost-effective than the tramway in relation to both the social and municipal economies. The super bus could function as a transition towards the tramway.

The estimated costs of the Turku tramway investments are 303 million euros. The estimate roughly corresponds to the average of Middle Europe, but the costs for Turku are higher than that of a similar project for Tampere. This results from the costs of archeological excavations, clayey subgrade and cleaning of contaminated land, among other things. Also the calculation method is slightly different.

A plan has been made for extending the tramway into a regional system. The extended lines with most potential would run via Satakunnantie to Raisio, and from Skanssi via Pyhän Katariinantie to Kaarina.

Everyone interested in the tramway general plan can voice their opinions by 8 June 2015 at www.turunraitiotie.info. After the comments the Turku City Council will make a decision in the early autumn 2015 about continuing the designing.