Antalya Metropolitan Municipality has started to implement special lanes for public buses in order to reduce traffic congestion and encourage public transportation. Buses can proceed continuously on the right lane of the main arteries allocated to them without getting stuck in the congestion.
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality is implementing new practices in order to reduce the traffic congestion experienced from time to time due to the increase in the number of registered vehicles in Antalya in recent years and the intense migration and to encourage public transportation. In this context, the mandatory right lane application for public buses has begun.
RIGHT STRIPES PAINTED
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality has implemented its new application as a solution to the traffic congestion caused by the rightmost lanes on the main arteries being unusable due to incorrect parking and public buses having to change lanes. In the east and west traffic flow where traffic is most intense, public transport vehicles will now drive on the right lane at Mevlana Junction, Yener Ulusoy Boulevard and on the main arteries. In order to ensure fast passage, the right lanes have been painted and information signs have been placed.
FIRST STAGE IMPLEMENTATION IS SUCCESSFUL
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Planning and Rail System Department Head Nurettin Şengül said that the first stage of the right lane application was successfully implemented and said, “All buses have started using the right lane from the Mevlana Junction to the Güllük Junction, which is the first stage. Informational signs and lane painting work have been done for drivers. Other vehicles in traffic can also use the right lane, but they will definitely not be able to park or stop. The first stage is successfully completed. Buses have also started to be able to pass quickly, especially during peak hours, without getting stuck in traffic. Even if traffic is congested at underpasses, buses continue their way using overpasses.”
PASSIVE STRIPS BECAME ACTIVE
Şengül, who stated that one lane on the main line is passive due to parking, said, “It is an important line of the city where 200 thousand vehicles pass daily. We see that approximately 100 vehicles park on this line throughout the day. The passive lane will become active due to this parking. Citizens will now be required to stop their vehicles using parking lots on side streets or inner points. Antalya Security Directorate teams, municipal police teams and Public Transportation Inspectors are working intensively to prevent these parking lots. Penalties will also begin to be applied in a short time.”
ANTALYASPOR – HEALTH DIRECTORATE MEVLANA – SQUARE INTERSECTIONS
Nurettin Şengül, noting that buses will be able to use the right lane until Antalyaspor Junction with the work to be done at Güllük Junction, said, “Güllük Junction is closed to the main passage but the work is ongoing. We will open Güllük Street in a short time and buses will be able to use the right lane until Antalyaspor Junction. The application will start first on the right lane and then on the opposite direction until Antalyaspor Junction. The applications will continue between Mevlana - Meydan, Antalyaspor Junction and Health Provincial Directorate Junction.”
