In a bid for greener and more accessible urban areas, Limassol and Larnaca launched their EU-funded viable urban mobility schemes on Friday, aiming to reduce traffic congestion, strengthen public transport and promote environment-friendly alternatives, such as cycling and walking.
Speaking at the presentation of the initiatives, in the presence of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB), Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said the plan included promoting the use of public transport, reducing dependence on private cars and renewing the national fleet of vehicles with electric and zero emission cars.
“By investing in these viable urban mobility strategies, we are making sure that our cities are becoming accessible, viable and resilient. The long-term impact of these projects will benefit not only the environment but will also improve the quality of life of all Cypriots,” he said.
The government’s vision, he added, was a state in which viable mobility was at the centre of urban planning.
Development director at the finance ministry Andreas Zachariades said most of the funding came from the EU through the recovery fund and the EIB.
He said €100 million had been allocated for the green transition and that the urban mobility projects for Limassol and Larnaca had a total budget of €26.5 million for fast lanes, bicycle lanes and park&ride stations, with a further €5 million for accessibility works for the disabled, cyclists and pedestrians.
EIB vice president Kyriakos Kakouris said the project would address traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions.
This, he added, was a significant step for Cyprus in meeting climate goals and contributing to the broader EU efforts to address climate change.
Kakouris said viability was not just about the environment but had to do with the quality of life in towns.
The project will make transport faster and more effective and would encourage people to walk and cycle, making roads safer and the people healthier, while at the same time facilitating the disabled with more choices for getting about.
European Commission structural reform senior officer Judit Rozsa said urban mobility was the main factor for sustainable growth in Europe, adding that the projects in Limassol and Larnaca were part of a broader effort to meet EU climate goals and reduce dependence on cars in urban areas.
In Cyprus, she said, there was a great dependence on private vehicles for commuting, adding that a quick transition from planning to implementation was a decisive factor for success.
Rózsa said these projects were a model for other cities seeking to improve urban mobility and environmental viability and affirmed the EU’s commitment to support Cyprus’ efforts for mobility and other reforms in the future.
