This year, a public tender will be announced for the provision of the capital public transport services. All new carriers will organize passenger transport exclusively with electric vehicles. After acquiring route service services, it is planned to introduce 12 new routes, adjust the existing ones and increase the frequency of bus services on 44 routes. Even in remote areas of the city, passengers will not have to wait more than 15 minutes during peak hours.
"Liberalization of the market will raise public transport to another quality level. Greater competition between carriers, updated bus fleet and route changes will ensure the availability of public transport not only in the central part of the city, but also in more remote and new districts. At the same time, this will reduce the harmful impact of the transport sector on the environment, as private carriers will transport passengers on electric buses", says the mayor of Vilnius Valdas Benkunskas.
New routes for remote areas
Currently, there are 106 routes in Vilnius - 6 express buses, 83 buses and 17 trolleybuses. A survey of citizens conducted by JUDU showed that, in the opinion of residents, the first priority should be to update the transport fleet, adjust public transport routes, increase the frequency of trips and create a better microclimate during travel.
This year, it is planned to introduce one new route towards Žemeių Paneriė (Vaduvos St. - Center (Lukiški Square). Until 2030 11 more new routes are planned, the tracks of 46 routes will be adjusted according to the forecasted passenger flows. 44 routes will run more often.
Currently, buses run every 20-75 minutes in some peripheral areas of the city during peak hours. With new carriers entering the market and changes to route schedules, even in remote areas, buses will run every 15 minutes during peak hours, and more often in areas with higher passenger flows.
The biggest route changes are planned in Dvarčionys, in New Vilnius, in Pavilni, Uzusieni, Salininkai, towards Kirtimii, Trakai Vokė, Pagirai, In Pilaite, Bajorai, Balsiai, but the frequency of the routes will be increased throughout the city.
"After integrating more carriers and transport into the transportation system, the public transport network in the capital will expand to the outskirts of the city and newly developing settlements, and the quality of public transport will improve throughout the city. Public transport on routes will be more frequent, public transport waiting times will be shorter and the passenger experience will be better", says Loreta Levulytė-Staškevičienė, JUDU Public Transport Organization Manager.
Now 86,7 percent. citizens living in the central part can reach public transport within a radius of 300 m, in the peripheral part of the city - within 600 m. After the implementation of the development of the routes, the public transport service will be available to 540,4 thousand people. population or an additional 41 thousand. population more than there is now.
More routes - for private carriers
It is planned to purchase almost half (46%) of the services of public transport routes required by the city of Vilnius from private carriers through tendering. The announcement of the public tender for transportation services was approved by the Vilnius City Council today. Currently, public transport services are provided by three providers: Municipality-owned UAB "Vilnius public transport", UAB "Transrevis" and UAB "Kautra".
In total, public transport in the capital makes 43,8 million trips per year. km, of which 34,2 million km driven by UAB Vilnius Public Transport, 7,5 mln. km UAB "Transrevis", 2,1 million km - UAB "Kautra".
It is planned to increase the number of kilometers traveled by public transport to 2028 million by 67,6. km per year. The tender will be held for 28,4 mln. km of route service per year. The carriers that won the tender will serve 56 routes with at least 297 electric buses.
After the tender, UAB "Vilniaus viešasis transportas" will serve 36,5 mln. km of travel, Kautra UAB, with which the contract is still ongoing, will provide 2,7 million. km of trips, and the remaining 28,4 million km - carriers who won the tender.
Carriers will provide public transport services with new low-floor electric low-capacity midi, two-axle, three-axle buses, metrobuses. All vehicles will have to be adapted for passengers with individual needs.
The tender will be announced in April this year. The purchase will be divided into four service packages of different scope. Companies will be able to submit proposals until September 2024, after which the proposals will be evaluated and the winners will be announced. The contracts will be signed for seven years with the possibility of extending them for another three years.
The new carriers will start serving the routes from 2026.
Also self-driving trolleybuses
The public transport fleet of UAB "Vilniaus viešasis transportas" is also currently being renovated. Currently, there are 608 vehicles operating in the "Vilnius public transport" system - buses, trolleybuses.
By 2026, it is planned to purchase 88 new buses (75 two-axle, 6 three-axle, 5 midi buses, 2 electric), 159 autonomous trolleybuses and additionally 5 three-axle autonomous trolleybuses.
By 2030, it is planned that the fleet will consist of 801 vehicles. 229 buses and 41 trolleybuses purchased earlier will also be renovated.
