With the purchase of 20 new environmentally friendly buses, the Polish town of Oświęcim has improved both the environment and the quality of public transport.
New eco-buses in Oświęcim, Poland lower emissions and boost passenger service
- 11 April 2020
"Our ambition is to make green and citizen-friendly communication the standard in the region. Thanks to the European funds, in the last few years we have been able to significantly modernise the bus fleet in the entire region."
Oświęcim, a town in southern Poland, is home to approximately 40 000 people. However, due to a much commuter traffic and a significant number of tourists who come to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, the town’s public transport system serves over 93 000 people every year.
Most of this transportation is via bus. A total of 10 urban and 17 suburban lines travel over 12 million km every year, and produce a considerable amount of greenhouse gases.
To reduce this carbon footprint, Miejski Zakład Komunikacji, the municipal transport department that operates the city’s public transportation system, has purchased a fleet of eco-friendly buses – with the help of EU funding. As a result, not only has the system seen a decrease in its total carbon emissions, but also an increase in both quality and comfort.
Improving the environment and service standards
With the dual goal of implementing low-carbon, sustainable mobility and raising passenger service standards, this project purchased 20 new, eco-friendly buses of various lengths. Some were adapted to better serve passengers with disabilities. The state-of-the-art low-floor buses have air conditioning, digital information boards, and security cameras.
In addition, the old bus fleet was modernised to make it more environmentally friendly.
To improve passenger service, the project introduced coordinated timetables and launched an interactive passenger information system. Many buses and bus stops have had electronic timetables, accessible via a QR code, installed.
A more attractive city to live in
Today, all passengers are enjoying a more comfortable, safe, and timely ride. Furthermore, thanks to the low- emission buses, all citizens of Oświęcim are benefiting from cleaner air.
According to city authorities, as the new buses have made Oświęcim a more attractive city to live in, the project will have a positive impact on the region’s growth and development.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Improving the quality of public transport in Oświęcim by purchasing ecological buses” is EUR 115 231 320, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 79 631 400 through the “Małopolskie Voivodeship” Regional Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “reduction of air pollution”.