Limassol studies tram project that could require hundreds of millions of euros
In Limassol, Cyprus, an interdisciplinary group of specialists is studying the possibility of creating a tram system among more than 30 options for developing urban transport. Transport Minister Evantia Tsolaki called the idea promising, but stressed that the decision must be based primarily on the project’s financial and environmental sustainability.
As Cyprus Mail reports, the study is coordinated by the University of Cyprus and Frederick University. The team of experts from Cyprus and other countries was not given a predetermined route or a specific solution by the municipalities.
Cost and demand
The head of the research group, Professor Lucas Demetriou, noted that a tram is one of the options being considered as part of the study. At the same time, he warned that such infrastructure would constitute a significant intervention in the urban environment and could require investments of hundreds of millions of euros.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
According to him, specialists must assess the feasibility of the investment, the integration of the tram with other urban initiatives, residents’ willingness to use it, and the actual need for this type of transport. The final assessment will also take into account projected passenger traffic, construction and operating costs, integration with other modes of transport, and the impact on the urban environment.
More than 30 transport scenarios
During the first six months of the study, the team collected a significant amount of data, including the results of a large survey of Limassol residents. Demetriou said that residents generally view the idea of a tram positively, but public support alone is insufficient to justify an investment of this scale.
The study is not limited to the possible construction of a tram line along the coastal road: a broader range of routes and scenarios is being analyzed. Limassol Mayor Yannis Armeftis previously proposed considering the tram not only as a transport project, but also as a tool for renewing public spaces, particularly in areas with restricted private car traffic.
