Burgas (Bulgaria)
Burgas is a city of 210,300 inhabitants, located in the province of Burgas, Bulgaria. It is a seaside resort and is the second largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, located at the westernmost point of the Black Sea. Burgas is 389 km from Sofia and 350 km from Istanbul and is well known for its huge port, the largest in Bulgaria.
The modal split in Burgas is 31 percent public transport and 69 percent private car, although on certain routes a modal split of 50 percent has been achieved. The use of public transport is at a moderate level compared with other Bulgarian cities.Strategic planning in the field of sustainable transport management is an ongoing process. However, there are strategic documents at city level that define priorities in the field of urban mobility and public transport development. The Municipal Plan for Development, 2007 to 2013, outlines measures for the renovation of the urban transport system; and the Urban Master Plan, which has not yet been officially adopted, describes the measures to be undertaken in order to improve urban transport management and to identify sustainable solutions for the city. Priority is given to improving basic infrastructure, renewing the bus fleet and improving access. The city of Burgas has implemented the following measures aimed at improving the quality of public transportation services: the purchase of 10 buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG) to promote clean fuels; the introduction of a digitalised system for the purchase of monthly transport tickets; and the creation of special services for handicapped passengers, including the installation of audible traffic signals for the visually impaired.In 2009, the city was chosen as a pilot city to receive technical assistance through the EU programme Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions (JASPERS) in order to develop an integrated urban transport project. In addition to the specific goals of the project, a long-term strategy for urban transport development was outlined, including the introduction of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system and an intelligent transportation system (ITS); the development of a blue-zone parking system for the city centre; the renewal of bus stops; the installation of park and ride facilities; the creation of a multimodal system integrating bus, rail and marine transportation; and the introduction of light rail transit (LRT).The main partners in the implementation of sustainable urban transport measures are: public and private transport operators; local and regional NGOs working in the field of environmental protection; state agencies engaged in public transport policy development; and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria.Official city website: http://www.burgas.bg.
