Baku: Work to be carried out in the fields of bus, railway, metro, and tram transport for passenger transportation in Baku has been announced, APA reports. Tarlan Safarov, head of the Baku Regional Department at the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA), highlighted their main focus on restructuring the city's bus transport system during an event dedicated to Baku's Master Plan held within the framework of WUF13.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the State Program has already seen significant progress. A total of 368 green energy-powered buses have been introduced, and 114 kilometers of dedicated bus lanes have been constructed. This development has increased the daily active bus fleet by 30 percent, with 2,300 buses in operation. The city now transports 494 million passengers annually, and contactless payment has been expanded to 1,900 buses. The regional railway network is also being expanded to serve suburban areas, with plans to connect residential settlements like Bilgah, Mashtaga, Albaliliq, Bina, and Hovsan directly to central Baku. Freight corridors from Keshla to Boyuk-Shor are being repurposed for suburban passenger flows, and 20 new modern passenger trains are planned for purchase.
Ten new strategic stations are being designed to improve city access. The separation of the Green and Red metro lines at the '28 May' interchange station is planned to enhance network frequency and safety, eliminating a major transit bottleneck.
Light rail systems are being reintroduced into Baku's urban structure, with modern tram networks analyzed for high-density corridors. A route from Mehdiabad to the '28 May' center is prioritized. AYNA aims to integrate highways, railways, metro, and trams into a unified digital and physical ecosystem to optimize travel times and maximize accessibility.
The implementation of Multimodal Hubs between strategic locations, including Sumgayit, Khirdalan, Sabunchu, and Koroghlu, will enable seamless passenger transfers between railway, metro, and bus networks in under two minutes.
In terms of micromobility, 60.3 kilometers of dedicated bicycle lanes and over 1,200 organized parking spaces have been constructed. Micromobility accounts for 12 percent of short-distance trips in the city center. Streets are being made pedestrian-friendly, with new sidewalk standards and pedestrian networks planned for several streets. Pedestrian concepts are being developed for Tabriz Street and areas around the 'Ganjlik' station hub.
In conclusion, the strategic vision for Baku's mobility aims for a faster, safer, and greener transit system.