European Funds for the development of an intelligent transport system in Kraków

An intelligent traffic light system for public bus transport, quick and clear information for passengers at stops, monitoring of vehicles on streets, bus lanes and areas subject to traffic restrictions. All of this thanks to co-financing from the European Funds under the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment 2021–2027 operational programme. 

The project titled “Rozwój inteligentnych systemów transportowych (ITS) poprawiających dostępność komunikacyjną na terenie miasta Krakowa” (The development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) improving accessibility of urban transport within Kraków) has received funding from the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment 2021–2027 programme in the amount of PLN 46,209,240.17. This is the result of an agreement signed with the Centre for EU Transport Projects on 7 August.

– For years, Kraków has consistently invested in sustainable transport and modern solutions for residents – and we are proud to support those efforts. It is the third agreement under the FEnIKS programme signed with the city within the last few weeks – each of them different, but all equally important. The financing granted today for the implementation of the ITS project is a great example of how modern technologies can improve comfort and safety of daily travel. We are pleased with such a good and effective cooperation with Kraków, – says Joanna Lech, Director of CEUTP.

What does the project include?

– A modern ITS system will not only increase passengers’ comfort, but also realistically improve traffic management. Thanks to a better flow of information, collective transport becomes more predictable, and the restricted traffic zones will be enforced more effectively, – says Aleksander Miszalski, President of Kraków.

What is an ITS system? An Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is a modern tool, which enables remote traffic management, including its optimization and monitoring. The goal of it is to make driving around the city better, faster and safer. The one to be implemented in Kraków will include such components as:

• intelligent traffic light controllers, whose task will be to support the priority of public transport, as well as monitor the flow and safety of road traffic,
• electronic displays of the dynamic passenger information system,
• cameras, including ANPR ones, monitoring vehicles on the streets – with them, it will be possible to monitor bus lanes within the city, vehicles entering the areas subject to traffic restrictions – Stare Miasto and Kazimierz – as well as the most important communication routes in the city. In the future, they will also be used to monitor the clean transport zones,
• an extensive fibre-optic network for fast data transfer, as well as designed and prepared assembly points and power supply for specific devices on the city streets.

– Today, we signed another agreement to improve daily lives of the residents of Kraków, make positive change both for those, who live here and move around the city every day, as well as those, who come here to study or run a business. It is a co-financing agreement for the amount of PLN 46,200,000 to fund the Intelligent Transport System in Kraków. This type of system is not yet common, and only few cities can afford this technology, – said Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure, during a briefing.

He also added that it is the third agreement of this kind signed within the last several days.

– We support various investments within Kraków using the EU funds. Aside from the Intelligent Transport System, we also secured funding for the modernisation of tracks along Starowiślna and Karmelicka streets, among others. I am very pleased, and would also like to express my congratulations, as those are very well-prepared projects, – emphasised the Minister of Infrastructure.

Implementation of the project will begin in the middle of next year (at the end of this year a tender is planned to be announced) and will last until the end of 2029.

The project titled “Rozwój inteligentnych systemów transportowych (ITS) poprawiających dostępność komunikacyjną na terenie miasta Krakowa” (The development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) improving accessibility of urban transport within Kraków) is co-financed from the European Union under the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment 2021–2027 programme. FENIX.02.01 “Transport miejski” (Public Transport) actions. FENX.03 “Transport miejski” (Public Transport) priority.

Photo: Bogusław Świerzowski/krakow.pl