Rome : City News

Last update : December 2004

Rome third metro line on the tracks

Rome has 2 projects of metro lines (C and D). The line C project consists in a 39 kilometers line with 42 stops, linking the north west (Tor di Quinto-Vigna Clara) and the south west (University Comprensorio of Tor Vergata) and also serving the historical city center. The first section of this line is about to be fully approved. The project which is 25 kilometers long and serves 30 stops, is planned to be in service in 2010 for a total investment cost of &euro2.900bn. State will cover 70% of the cost for the first phase, the remaining costs will be borne by Lazio region and Rome municipality.
The trains will carry 1200 people of which 250 seated. The automation will lead to high commercial speed of 30 km/h combined with an excellent regularity and a high frequency with a minimal interval of 90s, providing capacity of 40.000 passengers per hour.
Rome is also preparing to host next UITP Congress in June (see agenda), providing an excellent opportunity to present the various initiatives in public transport and urban mobility : trolleys using batteries in historical protected zone, central area with restricted access and electronic monitoring, biggest European fleet of electric buses...(added December 2004)
http://www.comune.roma.it/dipVII/traspub
http://www.uitp.com/rome2005

Towards a third underground line in Rome

The new line C of Rome underground is an ambitious project which aims both to improve the supply of public transport in the Italian capital city to foster projects of urban renewal all along the route with a redesign of public spaces, an improvement of the environment (squares, gardens) and a regorganisation of surface public transport.

The line - 32 km long with 42 stations - will cross the whole city like a backbone following a north-west / south-east direction and will serve some of the main monuments (Vatican city, Coliseum, Basilica San Giovanni). It will provide two interchanges with underground line A and one with line B, two with the regional railways and two with urban tramways. Trains will carry 1,200 persons every 3 minutes, at a commercial speed of 35 km/h (including stops at stations). Regularity and security will be monitored by the ATP system, which will manage the minimum distance between trains.

The route, wholly underground, will be built under the archaeological laver, at a depth varying from 20 to 35 metres. It will consist in two single-track tubes. The first section (7.5 km and 9 stations between San Giovanni and Alessandrino) will cost 0.92 billion &euro, and will be funded by the Italian State (60%) and the Municipality of Rome (40%). (added June 2001)

Towards "Zero emission" in the centre of Rome

Control of access to the historical centre
As part of the mobility measures decided for the Jubilee of 2000, the Municipality of Rome has implemented a control of access to the historical centre. A Restricted Traffic Zone of 5,5km² was created. 22 gates equipped with an "access control system" based on the Telepass technology, also used for highway tolls, will check that vehicles are allowed to enter the limited traffic area. The entrance is free for residents, but other categories of car users have to pay the equivalent of a yearly public transport pass to obtain a permit. Violators, identified by their number plates, will automatically be fined. Electric buses in the centre of Rome Rome public transport company ATAC designed a network of "electric" routes that cross the historical centre of the city and connect the underground stations within the Restricted Traffic Zone. 4 routes are already operated with some medium-sized (capacity of 44 persons) electric buses using lead acid batteries. The network will soon have 3 new lines (for a total length of 51km) and 54 new vehicles ranging from 28 to 35 seats. This new network will improve the service offered to the people and contribute to the goal of "Zero emission" in the centre of Rome. (added December 2000)