Urban and Traffic Revitalisation of the Rijeka Downtown Area

Project title:

Description:

The reconstruction of Jelačić square, the regulation and extension of Riva street, the reconstruction of Žabica square and the construction of the western Žabica complex

Importance of the project:

The broader context of the project: the Rijeka intermodal corridor as part of the Mediterranean TEN-T corridor, basic network of European corridors

URBAN AND TRAFFIC REVITALISATION OF THE RIJEKA DOWNTOWN AREA

Project promoter: City of Rijeka

Objectives:

improving conditions of urban and transport infrastructure
more rational use of space
reducing road congestion and a better traffic flow in the downtown area
reducing pollution / CO2 emissions
improving the public transport system
better traffic safety
better connection of the different transport systems (maritime, rail, road)

Parts / phases of the project:

reconstruction of Jelačić square
regulation of Riva st.
reconstruction of Žabica sq.
construction of the western Žabica complex
construction of the first phase of the extension of Riva st.
construction of the second phase of the extension of Riva st.

Reconstruction of Jelačić square

The project covers a major part of the surface of Jelačić square (with the exception of the existing pedestrian part of the square), which today is mainly intended for road and stationary traffic (suburban bus terminal for the western part of Rijeka), and only a minor part for pedestrian traffic, (narrow sidewalks at Jelačić square, Fiumara street and Scarpa street).

Owing to the regulation, Jelačić square will obtain two functional units:

the road, which in fact is the continuation of Fiumara street with the “yellow” lane reserved for buses and the junction with Veslarska street, which represents further communication with D404 state road towards the city centre,
the pedestrian part of the square, made up of purely newly formed pedestrian areas, to which the pedestrian bridge over the Dead Channel is connected, thus increasing the pedestrian area of the downtown area.

Existing project documentation:

preliminary, main and detailed projects,
confirmation of the main project

Estimated investment value: EUR 2.7 million

Regulations of Riva street

Attempting to adapt the city centre to pedestrian traffic as much as possible while strengthening the importance of city public traffic (as determined by the general urban plan), we are approaching change in the vehicle circulation regime / implementation of a new “yellow lane” “reserved for public transport in the following sections:

Riva st. and Ivan Zajc st. become two-way four-lane roads for all traffic
Adamić street is reserved for public transport, TAXI and emergency and delivery vehicles.
Following this concept in the intersecting roads, the traffic regime is modified or closed to traffic:
Zadar street becomes two-way
Split and Hencke streets are closed to traffic and become pedestrian zones
Veslarska street remains in one-way use
Ribarska street – one way.

Since Adamić street is located in the centre of the pedestrian downtown zone, and will be intended exclusively for public transport, with this solution we achieve traffic flow of public transport in the city centre, increasing its overall attractiveness for citizens. The final objective of this intervention, as well as of other traffic regulation interventions in the downtown area and outside, is aimed at achieving distribution between public and individual traffic in the proportion 60% : 40%.

Existing project documentation: preliminary project

Estimated investment value: € 0.7 million

Reconstruction of Žabica square

With the new architectural solution, the square is conceived as an area full of greenery, fountains and benches for relaxation. The part of the square reserved for traffic is divided into two directions, each with three traffic lanes. The outside lane is intended for taxis. This transport solution is based on the fact that Riva street becomes two-way for all vehicles, while Adamić and Trpimir streets become roads reserved for public transport and delivery vehicles. The new transport solution for this main city artery and for access to the bus terminal complex, which includes a garage with about 900 parking spaces, will significantly reduce air pollution in the downtown area because it allows personal vehicles to be parked on its edge.

Existing project documentation:

preliminary project, site development permit,
main project and detailed project are being prepared

Estimated investment value: EUR 2 million

Construction of the Western Žabica Complex

The western Žabica complex is located in the downtown area, in the territory of old railway warehouses (about 3 ha) and represents urban revitalisation and valorisation of the existing industrial heritage located in the downtown area and includes the construction of the following facilities:

Bus terminal with a bus garage – approximately 11,500 sq m
Public garage – 4 floors with 940 parking spaces – approximately 26,000 sq m
commercial and recreational facilities – approximately 3,600 sq m

Realisation model

The owners offer realisation according to the public-private partnership model and / or by combining a public-private partnership with EU funds.

Spatial planning documents

The project complies with spatial planning documentation.

Project documentation:

Preliminary, main and detailed projects for the construction of the complex and the reconstruction of Žabica Square and the construction of the extension of Riva street.

Permits for building:

confirmation of the main project for the Western Žabica Complex,
confirmation of the main project for the reconstruction of Žabica Square and the construction of the extension of Riva street.

Estimated investment value: EUR 42,000,000.00 million

Extension of Riva st., first phase

The extension of Riva street for a total length of about 400 m. It is a four-lane road, with the strip for the division in the centre. At the southern end, a protective green belt separates the road from the relocated railway line. The extended Riva street on the south side is intended for the entrance and operation of the bus terminal in this phase of development.

Existing project documentation:

preliminary project,
site development permit,
main project and detailed project are being prepared

Estimated investment value: EUR 2.7 million

Extension of Riva street, second phase

Owing to the project, the connecting road leading from Žabica square to the Mlaka area will be built, which serves for the operation of the new integrated passenger terminal for long-distance traffic and its connection to the city road network. The road represents the extension of the current Riva street to the west and is designed with four lanes. Almost half of this section is relevelled and passes under the railway station Rijeka and connects to Krešimir street. The new four-lane road is located where at present there are railway tracks – it is planned at the entrance to the bus station, followed by a tunnel section under the rail network of the railway station.

Evaluation of the traffic situation

Part of the whole project is the drafting of professional fundamentals for the evaluation of traffic conditions in the city. In the context of this project, traffic analysis, which includes spatial-environmental components, is particularly important. In order to evaluate the achievement of the objectives set by the project, it is necessary to periodically evaluate the traffic situation. Therefore, in November 2019, the preparation of a document of the same name (Evaluation of the traffic situation in Rijeka) was started, coordinated by the Department of Development, Urban Planning, Ecology and Land Management and prepared by the community of bidders – company Rijeka promet and company SZ Elipsa, Zagreb.

Professional fundamentals will include:

collection of data on all traffic segments and analysis of the situation with a quantified overview of the current state of mobility and traffic (traffic situation, availability of services, traffic safety, public transport services, …).

A SWOT analysis will be carried out, an analysis of the collected data and an analysis of the research data on site.

The results of this analysis are very important because they will provide an overall assessment of the state of the transport system and mobility in the city of Rijeka, with an emphasis on the critical parts and parts of the system that will require priority solutions.

The second part of the professional fundamentals concerns the definition of the indicators of sustainable development of the transport / mobility system and the drafting of a plan for periodic data collection.

Completion of key professional documentation is expected in the second half of 2020.

Contact:

Srđan Škunca, head
Department of Development, Urban Planning, Ecology and Land Management
City of Rijeka,
Tito sq. n. 3,
51000 Rijeka
Tel: 051 209 450
Fax: 051 209 451
Email: srdjan.skunca@rijeka.hr