Goals, methodology and structure

Survey Reports define, evaluate and compare the various options put forward as solutions to connect the Trambaix and Trambesòs tramways.

Goals

The Survey Report’s main goals are as follows:

In accordance with Act 4/2006, of 31 March, which defines a tramway infrastructure as a railway infrastructure installed on a public highway and, under Article 10, establishes that “a survey report and construction project need to be produced if a railway infrastructure is to be built or an existing one modified”.
Four alternative options have been studied, some of whose features have been included or modified since the Preliminary Studies in 2016. The results of the Survey Report do not differ much from the corresponding ones mentioned in the Preliminary Studies.

Methodology

The range of options responds to two main criteria:

Taking maximum advantage of the results obtained in the previous studies (based on a critical analysis of those studies), notably the Preliminary Studies for connecting the Trambesòs and Trambaix networks of 2016. The geographical research area for possible alternatives is limited to those analysed in the Preliminary Studies.

The concept of connecting the tram network has been assessed seven times since the end of the 1990s:

- Social and economic analysis of the tramway connection (PTP, 2005).
- Of the possible options for connection the Trambaix and Trambesòs tramways: Alternatives to the route along Avinguda Diagonal (Barcelona Regional and Ovectio, 2008).
- Profitability analysis (Tramvia Metropolità- MCRIT, 2010).
- Alternatives to entering and joining Tramway Networks in Barcelona (Catalan Regional Government and ATM-IDOM/Typsa, version 1, year 2012; and version 2, year 2014).
- Academic Study (UPC, 2015).
- Study on connecting the Trambaix and Trambesòs networks. Stage I (Barcelona City Council-MCRIT, 2016)

Connecting the two tramways is Barcelona's most analysed public transport project.

2. Maximum coherence with the planning in force, such as the Infrastructure Master Plan (PDI) of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (2011-2020), the Urban Mobility Plan (UMP) of Barcelona City Council (2013-2018) and the Mobility Master Plan of the ATM (2012-2018).

Structure

The structure of the Information Study is as follows:

Report:
- Analysis of Preliminary Studies.
- Analysis of the current planning.
- Additional analyses:
  - Analysis of the New Bus Network.
  - Analysis of the situation on Avinguda Diagonal.
- Summary, conclusions and selection of alternative options.
- Definition of the alternative options.
- Functional and economic evaluation of the alternative options.
- Cost/benefit analysis.
- Multi-criteria analysis.
Annexes
Maps
Works budget

Analysis of the New Bus Network (NXB)

In the criteria for location, it is considered appropriate that the new tramway does not overlap with routes where the NXB has already incorporated new lines as a high-performance urban transport system. The new bus network (NXB) redesigns the Barcelona bus network according to user-friendliness, effectiveness and efficient resource management criteria. In relation to the Information Study:

No high-performance line is envisaged on Avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona in the final NXB framework.
The non-duplicity of high-performance urban transport line routes has been taken into account as a selection criterion because it is felt that tram routes that have a high level of coincidence with the new high-performance bus lines should be discarded.

Analysis of the situation of Avinguda Diagonal

Unlike other main city hubs, Avda Diagonal, between Francesc Macià and Glòries, is not equipped with a fast service or a medium or high capacity (tramway, metro or commuter train). The central section of Avda Diagonal is served exclusively by the bus service:

With a bus lane that is not wide enough and is used by more than 46 buses/hour.
At peak times during the day, the capacity of the bus lane is exceeded, causing serious problems of buses accumulating at the bus stops. This is known as the accordion effect, which massively slows down the commercial speed and noticeably reduces the quality of service.

The three alternatives along Avda Diagonal

Irrespective of the profile (above-ground or in a tunnel) and the mode (tramway or bus) the three alternatives running along Avda Diagonal coincide in:

The selection criteria indicated in the Preliminary Studies:
- They do not overlap with the train or metro network.
- They have a simple geometric positioning and do not overly interfere with road transport or pedestrians.
- They do not involve peripheral routes that make a good quality service impossible for flows that start/end in the city centre.
Coherence with the new bus network (NXB), which blends in perfectly with the new network and achieving efficient intermodal transport.
To fulfil the goals of the current Planning:
Achieve a good penetration of the current tramway networks in the centre.
- Reduce motorised vehicles (except in the case of the tunnel option).
- Renovate the fleet of vehicles from a technological point of view.
- Improve public transport services.

Regarding the first options to be considered, the Information Study contains the following:

Tram Solution overground with reserved platform.
Tram Solution in tunnel limited exclusively to the busiest section.
Bus Solution that is more efficient and sustainable.

A fourth alternative

The study includes a fourth alternative along Urgell - Provença - Diagonal, with the following features:

Relative proximity to Diagonal.
Reduced impact on Provença street traffic, taking into account its current traffic-calming features.
Minimal overlapping with the NXB lines.

The four alternatives finally analysed

An equally detailed analysis was made for each alternative: description, budget, quantitative evaluation (cost/benefit) and qualitative evaluation (multi-criteria). The alternatives studied were:

Alternative 1: Tram overground along Avda Diagonal with reserved platform.
Alternative 2: Tram along Avda Diagonal in tunnel limited exclusively to the busiest section.
Alternative 3: Tram along Urgell - Provença - Diagonal.
Alternative 4: Best possible solution for electric bus on Avda Diagonal.