“Rīgas satiksme” and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA) have signed an agreement to receive co-financing from the Cohesion Fund of the European Union (EU) in order to implement the project “Adaptation of the Riga tram infrastructure to the low-floor tram parameters”. The funding from the Cohesion Fund will help the company to continue to implement its commitment to improve the mobility of the city’s residents and to promote the development of an environmentally friendly, comfortable and safe tram infrastructure for passengers. Co-financing for the project is in the amount of 85% of the eligible costs, i.e. 38.78 million euro.

 “This is an important project for the development of tram infrastructure, which is being implemented by attracting the EU co-financing. We are creating modern tram traffic that will improve the mobility of the population and transportation for all groups of passengers - especially seniors, parents with children and people with special needs. Of course, the realization of the project requires significant investments, therefore the concluded agreement for the receipt of the EU co-financing is a significant support in achieving our goal”, says Chairperson of the Board of “Rīgas satiksme” Džineta Innusa.

In order to improve the accessibility of the environment and to generally promote the development of a sustainable transport network, “Rīgas satiksme” is implementing a project to adapt the Riga tram infrastructure to the low-floor tram parameters. As part of the project, it is planned to restore the infrastructure of tram route No. 7 in the section from the Central Market to the final point “Ķengarags”. In order to ensure the advantages of the low-floor tram and the accessibility of the environment for every passenger, it is planned to rebuild and raise the platforms of several stops, whereas, in order to ensure the adaptation of the energy supply facilities to the low-floor tram parameters, both the catenary structures and electric cables will be rebuilt.

Furthermore, the project envisages reconstruction of the tram infrastructure in a length of approximately 2 kilometers in the section of tram route No. 5 from the intersection of Slokas Street and Jūrmalas gatve to the final point “Iļģuciems”, adapting it to the low-floor tram parameters and ensuring the construction of platforms that meet the requirements of environmental accessibility at the stops along the route.

With the aim of reducing the time of crossing the intersection and increasing the safety of tram movement in the area of switches, within the project, it is also planned to rebuild the tracks at the intersection of 11 November Embankment and 13 January Street. The switch control system will be installed, increasing the safety level of tram traffic and providing the possibility of remote control of switches.

Until now, “Rīgas satiksme” has made a significant contribution to the development of construction projects for the reconstruction and renovation of the infrastructure of the mentioned facilities, which will last until the end of the summer of 2022. Also, construction projects for renovation/reconstruction/construction of five substations are currently being developed. The design works of the substations will be completed in October 2022.

Procurement procedures for the construction works, which are organized in the form of closed tenders, in two rounds, respectively, have also taken place. In the first round, applicants who have the appropriate qualifications (experience and capacity) to perform such infrastructure reconstruction works are selected. Whereas, after complete development of the construction projects, within the second round, those applicants who meet the selection requirements will be invited to submit a price offer for the construction works. It is planned to conclude the contracts for the performance of construction works on the reconstruction of the tram infrastructure at the end of this year, while for the construction works of the substations - in the first quarter of 2023. The deadline for commissioning of the constructed facilities is the last quarter of 2023.

It is planned to implement the works by attracting co-financing from the European Union Cohesion Fund within the project “Adaptation of the Riga tram infrastructure to the low-floor tram parameters“ (No. 4.5.1.1/22/I/001). The total cost of the project is planned to be 55.2 million euro, while the Cohesion Fund co-financing amounts to 85% of the eligible costs of the project, i.e. 38.78 million euro.

For communication with “Rīgas satiksme”, we encourage you to use the information telephone 20361862, or write an email to info@rigassatiksme.lv. Furthermore, you can contact the enterprise on the website www.rigassatiksme.lv in the section “Contact us”, where anyone can submit an application electronically.