Dubrovnik launches €6.4 million Park & Ride project to ease historic Old Town traffic

Dubrovnik

The City of Dubrovnik has officially begun work on one of its most significant sustainable mobility infrastructure projects, the new Park & Ride Dubrovnik system at Pobrežje.

The construction contract was signed by Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković and Antonio Deranja, Director of Texo Molior, marking the start of a project designed to transform traffic management in and around the historic city.

The total value of the works stands at €6,474,764.16 (VAT included), with a completion deadline of 16 months from the official start of construction.

The project is largely financed through non-repayable funding from the Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds via the ITU mechanism, amounting to €5,972,635. In addition, the Ministry will co-finance up to €1.3 million of the City of Dubrovnik’s own contribution.

First Integrated Electric Park & Ride System in Croatia

Mayor Franković highlighted that this will be Croatia’s first Park & Ride system to combine parking facilities with integrated public city transport using electric buses.

Full implementation of the system is expected at the start of the 2028 tourist season.

Once operational, the system will serve as a key traffic redirection point, significantly reducing the number of private vehicles entering Dubrovnik’s narrow city centre and historic core. Visitors and residents will be able to park at Pobrežje and continue their journey by public transport.

The new hub will be connected by a regular public transport line operated by Libertas Dubrovnik, running on the Osojnik – Pobrežje – Pile route.

According to the Mayor, Libertas has the capacity to respond to increased passenger demand.

Importantly, once the system is in place, on-street parking spaces currently used for hourly ticketing will be converted exclusively for holders of the PPK resident card, effectively reserving more parking for local residents.

572 Parking Spaces and Modern Infrastructure

The Park & Ride facility will provide a total of 572 parking spaces, including:

• 530 spaces for passenger vehicles, 28 of which are designated for persons with disabilities

• 20 spaces for buses

• 16 taxi stands

• Two bus terminals (one for arrivals and one for departures), each with three parking bays

The development includes a connection to the former county road Ž6235 and will cover a total area of 26,775 square metres. Of this, 17,672 square metres will consist of asphalted roads and parking surfaces, while the remainder will feature green areas, trees, infrastructure installations and drainage systems.

Due to the terrain’s topography, the car park will be constructed in cascading levels with reinforced concrete retaining and supporting walls, ensuring maximum use of available space while minimising impact on the surrounding environment.

The project is fully aligned with Natura 2000 ecological network requirements and incorporates a series of environmental and energy-efficiency measures.

Solar panels will be installed on bus stop canopies, providing shelter for users while generating renewable energy. Solar power will be used for ambient lighting, reducing reliance on conventional electricity sources and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. During periods of reduced sunlight, LED lighting with a colour temperature below 3000 K will be used.

Large native trees with dense foliage will be planted to reduce surface heating during the summer months and improve microclimatic conditions.

A modern stormwater drainage system will collect and purify rainwater using oil and grease separators. The treated water will be stored and reused for irrigating green areas.

Separate waste collection containers and eco-friendly sanitary facilities will also be installed to ensure long-term sustainability and minimise environmental impact.

The Park & Ride project builds on Dubrovnik’s broader sustainable mobility strategy, which includes the introduction of a Special Traffic Regulation Zone, the electrification of public transport and the digitalisation of the city’s traffic management system.