Metro in another large Polish city. The deputy minister’s words do not inspire optimism

The new mayor of the city, Aleksander Miszalski, announced the acceleration of work on the construction of the metro in Krakow at the end of August. The local government official reminded that preliminary work in this area started after the referendum organized 10 years ago (in the vote held in May 2014, over 55% of residents supported the construction of the metro). This process – as a local government official stated – “was not as dynamic as could be expected.”

The construction of the metro in Krakow would start after 2025. By then, an environmental decision will be obtained, as well as design documentation and implementation decisions for the first section of the metro.

Metro in Krakow. What about government funding?

Meanwhile, a few weeks ago, Polish 2050 MP Rafał Komarewicz submitted a parliamentary interpellation regarding financial support from the government in this matter. The MP referred to the earlier assurances of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who at the beginning of this year, during his visit to Krakow, was to declare that “the Council of Ministers will provide financial support from the state for the project of building the metro in Krakow.” In his interpellation, Komarewicz pointed out that “the cost of the first stage of the investment, i.e. the so-called central section, is to cost PLN 13.5 billion.” Therefore, the MP asked about the amount of funds secured to support the investment in the construction of the metro in Krakow in the draft budget act for 2025 and about the plans to allocate funds for this purpose in the following financial years.

The answer was provided by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Piotr Malepszak. According to Money.pl, the deputy head of the ministry wrote that “so far, the Voivode of Małopolska has not applied to the Minister of Finance for funds for the construction of the metro in Krakow.” Malepszak reminded that co-financing of local government units’ own tasks from national funds of the state budget takes place at the request of the competent administrator. the budget part, in this case the Małopolska Voivode, while the Minister of Finance “does not have the legal possibility to directly transfer funds to individual entities (including local government units)”. budget funds, as well as in terms of meeting formal and legal requirements regarding the possibility of co-financing a given project and its financial arrangement.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure also reminded about the existing financial instruments addressed to local government units, at the same time emphasizing that none of them provides for financing the construction of the metro in Krakow. This includes, among others: Government Road Development Fund, Fund for the development of public utility bus transport, Railway Fund, general subsidy reserve and funds for infrastructure projects related to the Third European Games in 2023.

As Money.pl notes, the response did not directly refer to the Prime Minister’s previous declarations regarding financial support for the construction of the metro in Krakow. The deputy minister’s answer suggests that at the moment there are no specific plans to finance this investment from the state budget, and possible support will depend on the initiative of the Małopolska Voivode and the decision of the Minister of Finance.

The first meeting of the metro construction council

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council for the Construction of the Krakow Metro was held on Monday. The mayor of the city presented its members with appointment letters. According to the Krakow city hall, the first meeting was of an organizational nature. Thematic teams will deal with specific solutions that will be necessary during the investment.

As announced by the city authorities, the first stage will include the construction of the middle, approximately 6-kilometer section of the first east-west metro line, running from Rondo Młyńskie to ul. Piastowska. In the next stages, the line would be extended east – towards the Krzesławickie Hills in Nowa Huta and west – near ul. Jasnogórska in Bronowice. In total, the first line is to be approximately 26 km long and cost approximately PLN 13 billion. The rolling stock is expected to cost approximately PLN 1.5 billion.