Authorities in Tomsk propose reducing the number of bus routes to 14.
Tomsk's New Transportation System Update: A Breakdown
Hey there! Let's dig into the latest deets about the revamped (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport#Public_transport_planning_and_design) public transportation system in Tomsk, Russia.
The newly conceived plan encompasses 14 bus routes, with most experiencing minor tweaks. But here's the twist: the city authorities propose scrapping the infamous NoNo 8-9 routes and any others that currently remain unserved, as revealed by Dmitry Putilov, deputy head of Tomsk's transportation committee, during a recent meeting. Deputies have until May 19th to make any proposed amendments.
Previously, it was announced that city officials were planning to accept a new transportation scheme in 2024 and sign fresh contracts for transit services. Three different proposals were initially presented, with the last one featuring 13 main and seven supplementary routes. However, it faced criticism, leading to a nearly year-long delay in upgrading the transportation plan. Experts from Omsk were eventually brought in to help develop the updated plan.
"The tram and trolleybus network saw no adjustments in the fresh transportation plan. The projected municipal bus network consists of 14 routes with a calculated fleet size of 271 vehicles. This doesn’t account for any reserve. As of today, the current fleet size stands at 257 units. Comparing it to the existing scheme, the NoNo 8-9 route has been scrapped", stated Putilov.
Tomsk City Council Consolidates Low-Income and Profitable Bus Routes For 2025 Auctions
In the case of the No4 route, certain recent additions—namely, the transitions from Lagerny Saad to the 105th Quarter and from Lagerny Saad to the Lower Warehouse – Niushcha, will be axed. These routes will reportedly be serviced by the NoNo 36-37 routes instead, which will steer clear of Prospekt Frunze, Sibirskaya, and Altaiskaya. The extension of service to Platse Lenina is planned, with the goal of ensuring efficient transit coverage even with a small number of buses.
The No20 route's final stop will be moved from NPO "Virion" to Ulish Dem'yana Bedynego, near the Bahtin Cemetery. The No23 route, as per plans, will run along Ulitsa Lesnaya, Ulitsa Enthusiastov, Dem'yana Bedynego, Turgenenko, in response to the cancellation of the No8-9 routes. The No38 route will be extended from the Green Meadow to the Arsenal Factory, while the No53 route, when traveling along Ulitsa Ivanovskogo, will now stop in the Zelenye Gorki microdistrict, via Ulitsy Designerov and Boldyrev.
Participants from the Syibirskii Gorodovoi Avtomobilno-Dorozhny Universitet (SyibADI) were responsible for developing the transportation system plan.
According to the architect, candidate of technical sciences, Pavel Orlov, the decision-making process took into account passenger traffic, the profitability of routes, the number of buses dispatched, and the condition of the infrastructure at the stops—specifically, whether pavilions can be installed, the possibility of installing large buses, and whether certain streets can accommodate buses of larger sizes (e.g., some streets do not support the turning radius for larger buses).
Three Out Of Five New Tomsk Trams Fell Apart, Not Lasting Even a Year
Representatives from Tomsk's city council clarified that not a single bidder showed interest in operating the NoNo 8-9, No22, and No25-52 routes during the latest transit auctions. Yet, the deputies have proposed including these routes in the transportation plan and keeping the No38 route unchanged. According to the speaker of Tomsk's city council, Sergey Sechenov, the deputies' proposals will be taken into account until May 19th, after which they will be passed to the city council.
"We've had a look at what the experts came up with. We'll send our suggestions so that the administration can discuss them further. Once the deputies and I reach an understanding about what will work best for all, we’ll organize meetings by districts to let residents voice their opinions. Essentially, we'll explain the reasons behind certain decisions, such as why a particular bus won’t be able to travel down a specific street due to non-approval from GIBDD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Road_Agency)" - explained Sechenov.
Confirming this, deputy head Putilov stated that the updated system plan would also be put up for GIBDD approval. Once accepted by the deputies, residents, and the mayor, auctions will be held in search of new operators. According to plans, new contracts with a duration of seven years should be signed in October, with the new system scheduled to commence operation from November 2025.
In light of the proposed changes, financially unviable routes such as the NoNo 8-9 and several others will be abolished and reallocated to more profitable ones, like the No36-37 routes, in the upcoming 2025 transportation auctions. To cater to the transportation needs of the city, the updated plan includes industries like finance and transportation, with a revised municipal bus network spanning 14 routes, incorporating adjustments in routes like No4, No20, No23, No38, and No53.
