Barcelona takes the first step toward connecting the tram to Diagonal

BarcelonaThe tram connection along Diagonal is a little closer as of Tuesday. After the Metropolitan Transport Authority's (ATM) board of directors approved the construction project to connect the Verdaguer and Francesc Macià stations in September, the Barcelona Urban Planning Commission has now approved two essential steps for the project to move forward: the redevelopment of Diagonal in the section between Passeig de Joan de Aguas and the Avenida de la Concepción.

"Today we take another step toward closing the circle," celebrated the First Deputy Mayor, Laia Bonet, who argued that the tram connection along Diagonal "is a city project, not a government project." "It's a collective commitment to a more sustainable, healthier, and more connected Barcelona," she said, and claimed that the renovation will result in a Diagonal avenue that is "more liveable, greener, and with more space for people." Furthermore, he emphasized "the significant leap" this will represent in connecting Greater Barcelona with more sustainable public transport. The government has secured the support of BComú and ERC for the redevelopment, and all groups except the PP for the collector.

With a budget of €50 million, the redevelopment of Diagonal affects 2.8 kilometers and plans an increase of 16,000 m² of pedestrian space and an expansion of green areas and bike lanes of 18,900 m² and 1,800 m². Between Verdaguer and Francesc Macià, the idea is to "continue" what has already been done in the Glòries and Verdaguer section. That is, the tram and bike lane will be located in the central section of the road, and private traffic will be reduced to two lanes in each direction and will be located on the sides, on both sides of Diagonal.

In the case of the section between Plaça Francesc Macià and Avinguda Sarrià, the tram will run on the seaward side of the square, as it does, for example, at the intersection of Passeig de Sant Joan and Avinguda Diagonal. Here, with the aim of turning the Francesc Macià station into a major transport interchange, the mobility system will also be redesigned. Private vehicles entering the city will use the three lanes on the side, while the central road heading towards the city center will have two bus lanes.

As for the doubling of the collector between Carrer Girona and Carrer Francesc Macià, it will cost 58 million euros and should help reduce the risk of flooding and water circulation on the surface of the avenue and the surrounding area during torrential rains. In total, both projects represent almost €100 million, which will be covered by the City Council and are in addition to the additional €80 million that the Generalitat (Catalan government) must contribute to the ATM (ATM) for the tram infrastructure and installations, including the three new stops that will be added to the line: Diagonal/Cinc d'Oros, Balmes, and Casa. Overall, completing the tram connection will cost more than €200 million, with the City Council assuming more than half of that cost.

The City Council considers connecting the Trambaix and Trambesòs networks a key project to encourage the use of public transport in the city. The City Council has set a goal of transferring 250,000 daily work trips currently made by private vehicle to public transport. It cites as an example the success of the opening of the section between Glòries and Verdaguer. Since its launch a year ago, demand for the Trambesòs has increased by 35%.

A mess with the calendar

Despite the favorable vote for the initial approval of the project, Barcelona en Comú wanted to send a warning to the municipal government, accusing it of dragging its feet on the tram connection. Councilor Guille López warned that the city "cannot wait until 2032" to have the tram connection operational and asserted that the work can be completed in 25 months, not the 40 estimated by the municipal government. Therefore, he called on Bonet to specify the timetable and accelerate the deadlines if he wants to maintain the support of the Comú (Urban Council) for the final approval of the project in the plenary session.

Bonet responded to López that to expedite the tram connection "there is an indispensable condition," which is the approval of the next budgets of both the City Council and the Generalitat (Catalan Government), two votes in which, he emphasized, the votes of the Comú (Urban Council) are also necessary. From the ERC party, however, councilor Rosa Suriñach has asked the municipal government to begin working to ensure that the tram concession ceases to be private and passes into public hands. Together, the PP and Vox have reiterated their opposition to connecting the tram to Diagonal, arguing that other "more flexible" systems exist.