Deputy Mayor Tanel Kiik, responsible for transportation in Tallinn, introduced options and primary considerations for alternatives for the construction of the Järve-Pelguranna-Liivalaia tramway today at a seminar organised by the Tallinn City Council.

“When planning the new tramlines, we focused primarily on the number of potential passengers, impact on the environment, financial aspects and the holistic planning of the road and public transport network,” said Kiik. “Based on the calculations of the Tallinn Transport Department and urban planning considerations, the city government is discussing the construction of the Järve-Pelguranna-Liivalaia tramway. Each project entails changes in bus traffic and public transportation in general to increase the number of tram riders.”

The City of Tallinn has commissioned a tramway street space survey for five possible routes (Pelguranna, Narva mnt, Järve, Liivalaia and Kalaranna) which will be presented to the contracting authority by the end of October. The Tallinn Transport Department will draw up a feasibility analysis of the potential tramlines and assess their impact on traffic.

“In addition to the costs of the construction of the tramway and the renewal of the surrounding city space, the need to procure new trams and the possibility of building an extra depot must be considered as well,” Deputy Mayor Tanel Kiik explained. “Depending on the number of new tramlines, the total investment needs may reach several hundred million euros within the next ten years. Subsequent decisions by the city government are based on the tramway street space survey and the effect and feasibility analysis, which will be completed soon.”

As part of European Mobility Week, the Tallinn City Council organised the seminar “We need to talk about trams” which focused on the development of tramways in Tallinn.