Kraków Tenders Multi-Variant Concept for Piastowska Street Tram Line and Błonia Loop

The Municipal Infrastructure Management in Kraków has launched a tender for a multi-variant design concept for a 1.7-kilometer tram line along Piastowska Street and a new transit loop near Błonia.

Tender for a New Tram Line and Loop

The Municipal Infrastructure Management in Kraków has announced a tender to develop a multi-variant and multi-branch concept for building a tram line along Piastowska Street. This follows the city’s abandonment of the Cichy Kącik – Azory tram line plans, replacing it with a connection solely from Cichy Kącik to the tracks on Podchorążych and Bronowicka streets. The study will also designate a new location for a tram and bus loop in the Błonia area.

The announced tender involves preparing the concept, conducting necessary analyses and materials, and obtaining a final environmental decision for the resultant variant. The documentation will serve to prepare construction and executive designs and secure permits for the works. The procedure covers three stages over 25 months from contract signing.

1.7 Kilometers of New Tram Route

The contract entails preparing a concept for a dual-track tram line approximately 1.7 km long, running from Cichy Kącik along Piastowska Street to the intersection with Podchorążych and Bronowicka streets. The concept includes expanding or rebuilding this intersection and integrating the new route into the existing track layout for Piastowska–Bronowicka and Piastowska–Podchorążych relations.

The contractor must develop at least two route variants and include necessary road, pedestrian, bicycle, and technical infrastructure such as intersections, stops, utility networks, traffic control systems, and passenger information systems.

New Loop Location Options

The study will plan a new tram and bus loop to ultimately replace the current Cichy Kącik loop, which may retain technical or emergency functions. The documentation outlines two primary location possibilities: the existing southern parking lot at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium from 3 Maja Avenue, or near the intersection of Buszka and Piastowska streets.

Infrastructure for Pedestrians and Cyclists

An essential element is infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, featuring two-way, illuminated pedestrian routes on both sides and segregated bicycle paths connected to existing and planned infrastructure. The future loop will feature convenient access to platforms, a waiting room, public toilets, ticket machine spaces, a roofed area, monitoring, and passenger information board mounting locations.

Environmental Protection and Preservation of Trees

The concept must account for existing developments and planned investments, such as road works near Piastowska and Buszka streets, the Kraków Music Centre, and residential projects along Piastowska Street. Special attention is given to greenery protection, minimizing the felling of trees and shrubs, preserving the tree line separating the road from Błonia Park, and respecting conservation-protected areas like Błonia Park, the Cichy Kącik urban layout, and Młynówka Królewska Park.