Giving priority to public transport

Summary

A combination of measures were implemented in order to improve the reliability and average speed of trams, with the aim of attracting more public transport passengers.

Implementing sustainable mobility

Rotterdam has an extensive tram network, comprising a total of 150 km. However, rising volumes of traffic on the city’s roads were slowing down average tram speeds and reducing the reliability of travel timing. The concept of a high-quality tramline with dedicated lanes, known as TramPlus, emerged as a way of promoting public transport.

TramPlus was designed to provide trams with their own separate route off the road and to give trams priority over other road users at traffic lights. Waiting facilities were also improved and raised tram stops were installed to make it easier for older passengers and passengers with restricted mobility to board the vehicles. All platforms were equipped with dynamic travel information panels, showing the time to wait before the arrival of the next tram.

Progress

Activities under the TELLUS project included the design, planning and implementation of three routes: from the central railway station to Schiedam, Carnisselande andn IJsselmonde.

Preparatory work on the Schiedam line were finalised in 2004, although the line was not completed within the project period. Work was also ongoing on the IJsselmonde line during the project lifetime.

As a result of the TramPlus connection, the new residential district of Carnisselande and the shopping area Boulevard-Auidas were linked to the public transport network in 2004.

Outcomes

The development of the three routes required intensive cooperation with the Department of Spatial Planning and the Department of Traffic and Transport of the municipality of Rotterdam. There was also intensive communication with organisations of local shopkeepers and affected residents in order to reach satisfactory solutions and compromises. Where this was not possible, there were significant delays in implementation and the opening of the three new or upgraded routes was finalised outside the TELLUS project period.