A large Polish city wants to have a metro. A key element is missing

At the end of August, the Krakow authorities presented information about preparations for the construction of the metro. President Aleksander Miszalski recalled that preliminary work in this area started after the referendum organized 10 years ago (in the vote held in May 2014, over 55 percent of residents voted “yes”). This process – as the mayor of Krakow stated – “progressed as dynamically as could be expected.” – I take this very seriously and I would like to speed up this process – emphasized the mayor of Krakow.

In mid-September, a 17-person scientific and technical council was established for the construction of the metro in Krakow.

The construction of the metro in the capital of Małopolska is scheduled to start after 2025. The first so-called The “central” stage of the metro will lead from Nowa Huta to the vicinity of Piastowska Street. It will be 6 kilometers long and its estimated cost is approximately PLN 3 billion. The environmental decision, as well as design documentation and implementation decisions for this fragment are to be obtained by the end next year. In subsequent stages, the line would be extended to the east – towards Wzgórza Krzesławickie in Nowa Huta and west – to the vicinity of ul. Jasnogórska in Bronowice. In total, the first line will be approximately 26 km long and will cost approximately PLN 13 billion. The rolling stock is expected to cost approximately PLN 1.5 billion.

Metro in Krakow. There is no application to the Ministry of Finance

MP Rafał Komarewicz from Poland 2050 asked Prime Minister Donald Tusk about government financial support for the construction of the metro in Krakow in a parliamentary interpellation. According to the Local Government Portal, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Piotr Malepszak reminded in response that co-financing of the local government’s own tasks from national funds of the state budget takes place upon request. the competent administrator of the budget part, in this case the voivode of Małopolska. He may submit such a request to the Minister of Finance (if this does not happen, the Minister has no legal possibility to directly transfer funds to individual entities). The portal reports that so far, no application for funds for the construction of the metro in Krakow has been submitted by the Małopolska Voivode to the Ministry of Finance.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure reminds that financial instruments addressed to local governments, such as: Government Road Development Fund, Public Bus Transport Development Fund, general subsidy reserve or infrastructure projects in, among others, the city of Krakow does not provide for financing the construction of the metro.