By Ashley Karen
The mayor of Warszawa, Rafał Trzaskowski, has proposed a public transport master plan presented that envisages expanding the metro network from three lines totaling 41·5 km to five lines totaling 113 km by 2050.
Infill stations would be constructed on Line M1 at Plac Konstytucji at Muranów.
Currently, line M2 is being expanded west to Karolin, and under the plan would be extended further southwest to Ursus Niedźwiadek, adding three more stations. The eastern end of M2 would be expanded from Bródno to Marymont, recrossing the River Wisła.
Already, studies are being done for Line M3, which would operate from Stadion on M2 to Żwirki i Wigury in the southwest.
Moreover, the submitted Line M4 would link Wilanów in the south to Tarchomin in the north.
In addition, M5 would operate from Szamoty in the west to Gocławek in the east, with tunnels in the Śródmieście Południowe area, arranged above each other rather than side by side to protect surviving pre-war buildings.
The development would mean that 17 of the city’s 18 districts would have metro access, and the percentage of people living within 1 km of a metro station would grow from 28% to over 50%.
Trzaskowski stated: “Almost 60% of residents of Warszawa use public transport, over 90% are happy with it,”
“We are proud of it and we will develop collective transport. We want rail transport to reach all 18 districts of the capital so that by 2050 more than half of residents will have the metro within a short 1 km walk. And trams will reach where there is no metro.”
He also added: “We are also close to the philosophy of the 15 min city, so that all services important to the residents are within 15 min on foot or by public transport.”
“Design work on the third metro line has already started. At the same time, we want to start work on the fourth line. I have promises from the European Union that we will get the money that is necessary for such an expensive undertaking,” continued Trzaskowski.
