The Consell de Ibiza is planning a comprehensive reform of the bus stops under its jurisdiction, at a cost of 6.2 million euros. Of the 691 existing bus stops on the island, a total of 340 are the responsibility of the insular institution. The first and second vice-presidents, Mariano Juan, from the PP, and Javier Torres, from Ciudadanos, explained the conclusions of the evaluation of the state of the bus stops, which was commissioned in March last year to an engineering firm, at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Of the 340 that fall under the jurisdiction of the Consell, a total of 129 require “comprehensive” action; 165, “specific improvements, as there is no danger in terms of safety issues” and 49 do not require significant action.
The diagnosis indicates that only 42% of the stops have a canopy (bench and cover) and 39% have lighting. In this regard, Torres pointed out that the bus stops on the carratera de Sant Miquel have LED lighting powered by solar panels and have had to “be replaced over time because they have been vandalised“. In addition, 51.2% of the stops have specific protection for pedestrians and less than half (43.2%) have the corresponding vertical signage. 65.7% have a bay (so that the bus does not stop on the road), 85% have adequate visibility and 80.3% have a pedestrian access route.
With this preliminary study, the Department of Roads will now tender the drafting of a project to overhaul all the stops, which will be executed “in phases”, depending, for example, on whether or not the projected actions require the expropriation of land.
Funding needed for work on bus stops to begin
Mariano Juan indicated that the idea is that the first measures can be undertaken next year, while stressing that the Consell “needs funding”. Therefore, the first vice president has once again stressed the need to sign a new road agreement with the State. He recalled that two proposals have already been sent to Madrid (for 110 million euros), but they have not yet received a response. “Ibizans contribute a lot of resources to the State’s common wallet, so the State cannot absolve itself of its responsibility to invest in the island’s road network. There has always been a road agreement, regardless of the political colour of the two institutions,” Juan stressed.
He has also stressed that until now, the Consell only carried out upgrades of stops at the time when work was being done on the road. “This is insufficient. We have to stop pecking, if I may use this expression, and carry out a comprehensive plan for stops”, added Juan, while highlighting that “half of the stops do not have a shelter where users can take cover”. Specifically, only 42% have one.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.