Praha 1 agrees with the proposal for the tram route around the main train station

Prague - The leadership of Prague 1 agrees with the proposed route of the planned tram line from Vinohradská around the main train station to Bolzanova Street. On Tuesday, the municipal council made this decision, and it will still need to be approved by the city representatives. The proposal was prepared by the city Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) in agreement with preservationists; the city must change the zoning plan for the construction of the line. In connection with the construction, the city hall wants to negotiate with the magistrate about the reconstruction of Vrchlický Gardens through which the trams will operate. In addition, the Prague magistrate plans to return trams to the upper part of Wenceslas Square, which Prague 1 also agrees with.

The city originally planned to lead the line from the State Opera through a part of Vrchlický Gardens next to the main road, but this was not approved by the preservationists. Therefore, IPR ultimately came up with an alternative that leads the line instead through the streets of Politických vězňů and Washingtonova. From there, the trams are to continue around the train station building, curve northeast into Opletalova, and connect to the existing line in Bolzanova.

When the route could be built is still unclear. The city is currently processing a change to the zoning plan since the area in front of the main station is designated as a park in it. The change must be discussed and approved in the future by, among others, Prague councilors and representatives. The transport company has already placed tracks between the old and new buildings of the National Museum during adjustments, and in the future, it will be necessary to resolve the connection to the existing line on Vinohradská and Škrétova Streets. The current leadership of the capital also wants to build tracks along Vinohradská Street on both sides of Wenceslas Square and connect them to the line linking Vodičkova and Jindřišská Streets.

Prague 1 has been addressing how to improve Vrchlický Gardens near the main station for some time, which is known for the high concentration of troubled individuals. The city hall, according to spokesperson Kateřina Písačková, wants to coordinate park modifications with the preparation of the new tram line; details are not yet known.

Since October, Prague 1 has launched a program involving homeless people in the park's clean-up. Currently, the municipal district has employed eight of them, with plans to expand to 20 positions. "In addition to cleaning, we are involving them in removing stickers or repainting graffiti on municipal property. We are also expanding the locations where they could work," said Zdeněk Horák from the Prague Social Services Center, which coordinates the project. Prague 1 has also placed a mobile urinal in the gardens to prevent people from urinating on the trees.