Zagreb to install tram lane barriers to improve public transport

The City of Zagreb will begin installing physical barriers along the yellow lanes on Savska cesta in an effort to improve tram reliability and reduce delays on one of the city’s busiest public transport corridors.

Mayor Tomislav Tomašević announced the measure at a press conference on Thursday, saying that work would begin overnight and be carried out over four to five nights without affecting traffic on Savska cesta.

Savska cesta is a major tram route in Zagreb, with eight of the city’s 15 tram lines operating along the corridor. The yellow lane has existed for 45 years, but the city says traffic rules are increasingly being breached by motorists.

According to a study by Zagreb’s Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, cars using the yellow lane during the morning peak can slow tram services by up to 50% on certain sections of the route.

The new barriers will run along the full length of the Savska cesta tram corridor and are intended to prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering the lane.

“For those who have respected the yellow lane rule, which has existed on Savska for more than 40 years, nothing changes,” Tomašević said. “With this move, we want those who follow the rules to no longer feel as though they are being disadvantaged.”

The mayor said trams remain the backbone of Zagreb’s public transport system, carrying the largest number of passengers. A longer tram can carry around 200 passengers during the morning peak, he noted, while the same number of people travelling by car would create a queue of approximately one kilometre.

As part of the changes, taxis will no longer be allowed to use the tram corridor on Savska Road. The city said the number of taxis in Zagreb has grown to around 5,000 in recent years, with taxi traffic now contributing to tram delays.

Taxi access to yellow lanes has already been restricted on some other sections of the city, and the ban will now be extended to Savska cesta.

The measures form part of a wider programme aimed at delivering faster, more frequent and more reliable public transport in Zagreb.

The city said a representative public survey found strong support for giving priority to public transport. According to the findings, 83% of respondents support penalties for drivers who improperly use yellow traffic lanes, while 68% support giving trams and buses priority at traffic lights, even if this slows other traffic.

Zagreb is also continuing what it describes as its largest investment in tram rolling stock for several decades. The city has purchased 40 shorter trams, with 26 already delivered and the remaining 14 expected shortly. Procurement is also under way for 20 longer trams.

The combined value of the tram purchases is €170 million.

A further element of the city’s transport strategy is the Traffic Management Centre, in which Zagreb has invested more than €30 million to date. The system monitors traffic flows in real time and can adjust traffic light operations to improve traffic flow and give priority to public transport.

At present, 192 signal-controlled junctions are connected to the system. The city plans to link all 487 junctions across Zagreb by 2028.