Why a metro in Damascus?
The massive use of cars in Damascus, coupled with the lack of a reliable public transport system and the dense urban environment of Damascus, has led to traffic congestion on major roads and in downtown Damascus. As a result, the pollution, noise and visual impacts due to this traffic congestion seriously diminish the quality of life in Damascus. These elements are a major concern for the population of Damascus.
The Metro project is often called the miracle solution for Damascus, and yet until now it has also been considered a mere dream.
As cities grow in size, the number of vehicular trips on their road systems goes up. This necessitates a pragmatic policy shift to discourage private modes and encourage public transport.
Introduction of a rail based (MRTS) Mass Rapid Transit System is called for. Mass Rapid Transit Systems are capital intensive and have long gestation periods. It has been observed that in developed countries, planning for mass transit systems starts when city population size exceeds 1 million; the system is in position by the time the city population is 2 to 3 million and once the population exceeds 4 million or so, planned extensions to the Mass Rapid Transit Systems are vigorously taken up. Damascus population is today approaching 4 millions; this is why it is crucial to implement the first Metro line.
Why the metro?
Several systems of transport have been considered (tramway, light rail system, metro), but only the heavy metro will have the capacity to respond to the transport demand (690,000 to 860,000 passengers per day according to the patronage forecasts).
How has the Green Line been identified?
Preliminary analyses have highlighted the strengths of the Green Line corridor:
- The Green Line will connect dense residential areas (Moadamiyeh, Mezzeh) with major centres of activity (universities, city centre).
- It is the busiest corridor, and follows the major road axes.
- It will link major transport hubs (Sumaria bus station, Qaboun Pullman station, the future Hijaz railway station).
Thus the Green Line has been identified as the logical first step of the future transport network. More than 80% of the people who participated in the first phase of consultation also consider that the Green Line path is the most relevant.
The Green Line: first step of the future public transport network
The Green Line will be the first step of development of the future public transport network. Feasibility studies carried out by international consultants in 2002 have designed what could be the future Metro network, whose first stage will be the Green Line, between Moadamiyeh and Qaboun.
The other means of public transportation (bus, microbus, train) will also be integrated to this future network, to optimise the synergy between these various modes.
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