site.btaEuropean Commission Invests in Sofia's Tramway

118 POLITICS-EC-BULGARIA-TRANSPORT

European Commission
Invests
in Sofia's Tramway


Sofia, October 10 (BTA) - The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will invest 46.6 million euro to upgrade the tramway infrastructure and services in the Bulgarian capital, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

EU-funded works include the reconstruction of the tramway track along "Kamenodelska" Street and "Tsar Boris III" Boulevard, a section that serves 5 tramlines including tram line 5 which transports over 50,000 people a day.

The ERDF will also fund the purchase of new low-floor articulated trams and the upgrade of traffic management and passenger information systems. Thirty-four million euro from the ERDF was already invested in the Sofia tramway in the previous EU budget period.

"Thanks to EU funds, the inhabitants of Sofia will enjoy a modern and comfortable tramway. They will also enjoy cleaner air in the capital," said Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu, "as we hope they will trade their usual car ride for the new tram. This is how Cohesion Policy promotes clean mobility, everywhere in the EU."

The EU has also significantly invested in Sofia's metro's lines 1, 2 and 3. Overall, the EU invested 1 billion euro in Sofia's urban transport since 2007. RY/PP
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