İzmir Tramway Project Launched

Izmir Tramway Project Launched: Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which has developed three separate tram projects, will be put out to tender on February 26th.
According to the press release of the municipality, the 13 kilometer Konak Tram Project, one of the three tram lines to be implemented to complement the subway system, was firstly explained to the residents and shopkeepers residing on the Konak-Alsancak route.
Speaking at the information meeting at Kültürpark İsmet İnönü Cultural Center, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu reminded that they consider the principle of participation in tram projects as well as in every project they prepare.
Starting from the Transportation Master Plan tram project the scientists, professional chambers and by studying with issues related to Kocaoglu said that they bring to today, Turkey in Izmir, which is the most developed city "was I did" not with understanding, he said sharing that they acted with a management approach.
Turkey's rail transport with the system so late in expressing Aziz Kocaoglu "Once used trams and trolleybuses, the application has been removed for failing to keep pace with the renewal and age. The rail system in urban transportation was also postponed, and the most expensive method of rubber-wheeled public transportation was made dominant. But now we are working intensively to increase the share of the rail system in public transportation by using our resources in the most efficient way.
- Mansion and Karşıyaka construction tender on February 26
F.Altay Square-Konak-Halkapınar, Alaybey-Karşıyaka-Mavişehir and Şirinyer-DEÜ. Noting that they are working on three tram projects between Tınaztepe Campus, Kocaoğlu stated that their aim is to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion in the city as well as to provide economic, fast, safe and integrated transportation to the citizens.
Mansion and Karşıyaka Stating that they will have a tender for construction and tow trucks on February 26, Aziz Kocaoğlu said, “Under normal conditions, we plan to complete the project within 2,5 years and put the trams into service in 2017. It is not possible to completely give up public transportation with rubber wheels, but the more we get rid of the burden here, the more efficiently we carry the people of İzmir on these routes. "The trams that we plan to replace the bus on the routes it passes will be integrated with ferries, metro and buses with the transfer system in 90 minutes."
- Details of the project
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Technical Advisor Cemal Yıldız stated that Konak Tramway will serve on the 13-kilometer line between F.Altay Square-Konak-Halkapınar with 19 stops and 21 vehicles.
Expressing that the F.Altay-Konak-Halkapınar tram, which is planned to run 3 minutes at peak hours and 4-5 minutes at other hours, will complete its journey in 31 minutes, Yıldız said:
“Konak Tramway line, which will start next to the marketplace in Fahrettin Altay Square, will go to the beach following Şehit Major Ali Resmi Tufan Street, where the tax office is located. The line, which will proceed from the side of the Mustafa Kemal Beach Boulevard where the residences are located and without any intervention to the road, will proceed alongside the road traffic operating in 3 departures and 3 arrivals. The line that will pass under the Göztepe pedestrian overpass will continue along the coast and pass under the pedestrian bridge in front of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Konak Pier in Konak. The tram line, which will continue from the side of the road until Gazi Boulevard, will enter Şehit Fethi Bey Street, from here on, the route will be shared with the road traffic. Following Cumhuriyet Square, the line will proceed to Şehit Nevres Boulevard and from there to Şair Eşref Boulevard. The project was changed in order to protect the mulberry trees in Şair Eşref Boulevard in the middle reserve. The tram line will be divided into two as departure and arrival. The line, which will continue in this way until Vahap Özaltay Square, will reunite near Alsancak Station. The tram line, which proceeds to Şehitler Street after the station, will end at the Halkapınar Warehouse of İzmir Metro.