Recently, public hearings were held in Bishkek regarding the General Plan for the city's development until 2050. The transport infrastructure was at the center of the discussion.
Alexander Baranov, head of the "Transport Infrastructure" department at LLC "NIIPG," presented the results of the analysis of the current situation. He noted that nearly 40% of the city's main street and road network does not meet established standards. Moreover, 85% of the highways are overloaded, and 77% of them are occupied by parking, which significantly reduces their throughput.
The number of cars continues to grow, and by 2024, it is expected that there will be 330 cars per 1,000 residents.
The expert highlighted serious problems in public transport: overcrowded buses, low travel speeds, and areas not covered by routes.
There is a peak passenger flow at the city entrances, reaching 6,700 people per hour, which exceeds the capacity of the existing bus transport.
Alexander Baranov
As part of the general plan for 2050, significant development of the transport system is anticipated. It is planned to modernize 333 kilometers of main streets, build 299 kilometers of new roads, and 89 kilometers of bypass roads, including 49 kilometers of new ones. The project also includes the construction of 18 transport interchanges and two overpasses over railways.
Special attention is being paid to improving public transport. Among the proposals are the construction of tram lines and the implementation of a rapid bus transit system (metrobus). The idea of building a metro was rejected, as, according to Alexander Baranov, its implementation would require ten times more funds compared to the tram network and would not meet the projected passenger flows.
According to the developers' data, one modern tram can carry up to 220 passengers and replace up to 180 personal cars on city streets.
Additionally, it is proposed to redirect transit traffic outside the city by developing northern and southern bypasses, as well as creating an external ring for freight transport, including the transportation of hazardous goods. Within the capital, it is planned to create auxiliary centers, which should reduce the need for trips to the city center.
The project also includes the development of an urban railway, the construction of additional tracks and transfer platforms, as well as the creation of cycling infrastructure to avoid conflicts with car and public transport.
It is expected that the implementation of the general plan will increase public transport volumes by 54%, ensure 100% coverage of the population by the route network, and significantly reduce the use of personal cars.
