Why did Oświęcim decide to use the Krakow metro? There is an environmental decision

The mayor of Oświęcim issued an environmental decision for the mayor of Kraków. While processing this document, the Krakow authorities changed the concept and route of this means of transport, but – as they noted – the documentation and analyzes included in the decision will be an important point of reference for future work.

The Mayor of Oświęcim was appointed by the Local Government Appeals Board to issue an environmental decision for the construction of the first stage of the premiere in Krakow, because the city authorities could not process this document due to a conflict of interest – the properties of the family of the president of Krakow, Aleksander Miszalski, and vice-president Stanisław Mazur, are located near the planned metro route.

As the City Hall in Oświęcim announced on Friday, President Janusz Chwierut established the environmental conditions for the implementation of the first stage of the premiere in Krakow, making the decision immediately enforceable.

From premetro to autonomous system

The decision concerns the project involving the construction of fast, collision-free rail transport in Krakow (so-called premetro), on the section from the intersection of ul. Piastowska from ul. Reymonta to Rondo Młyńskie, with a track length of approx. 6.13 km, including underground tracks – 5.31 km.

According to new plans announced by the authorities in September last year, the Krakow metro will be based on a completely different concept – the vehicles are to be autonomous, and different routes have been designated. The metro will also meet new safety requirements, including: if necessary, take over the function of shelters.

The environmental decision for the mayor, processed by the city of Oświęcim – it was noted – does not allow the implementation of the project to such a standardbut the documentation and analyzes contained therein will be an important reference point and will help in the next stages of metro preparations.

Documentation for a mayor is solid knowledge capital. We use everything that can realistically support the next stage of the project: environmental analyses, geological research, technical studies. This is a natural continuation of the work done and basing the investment on a strong foundation, rather than starting it from scratch, emphasized the mayor of Krakow, Aleksander Miszalski.

Documentation as a basis, no wasted effort

According to him, the documentation developed so far will not be lost and will be widely used as a knowledge base and reference point for further design work. This applies in particular to the Nowa Huta – Centrum section, where the planned route largely overlaps.

According to the plans of the Krakow authorities announced in September last year, the first metro line will be put into operation in 10 years. Ultimately, the metro is to have two lines with a total length of approximately 29 km and will run from Nowa Huta to Opatkowice and Kurdwanów.

The adopted recommended variant of the metro route assumes the construction of two north-south lines, M1 and M2, which will complement each other. Both lines will start near the Kombinat in Nowa Huta, and then run parallel through the city center to the vicinity of ul. Brożka, where they will separate. One is to lead to Opatkowice, and the other to the estate. Kurdwanów. There are 29 stops on the route of both lines. The estimated cost of the entire investment is PLN 13-15 billion.

As announced, this year Krakow plans to announce a key tender, one of the elements of which will be obtaining an environmental decision for the entire first metro line instead of specific decisions for individual fragments of the route. At the same time, the city is making arrangements with the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Krakow regarding the scope of research, so that subsequent stages run more efficiently and predictably. (PAP)

rgr/agz/