"Communication services"traffic management specialists share that traffic flows usually increase by up to 30 percent in autumn compared to summer. This year, due to the security part, the activities of companies and educational institutions will be organized remotely - as a result, smaller flows are predicted, but the city is actively preparing for the upcoming autumn season.
In addition, it is estimated that this year public transport passenger flows in September will be approximately 20 percent. lower than last year. Despite this, the intensity of buses and trolleybuses is planned to be no lower than last year due to keeping a safe distance.
"In the first weeks of August, we see slight, but more intense than in 2019. traffic flow is natural, because this year most people refuse to go on vacation abroad, more people spend time in the city. As every year, we have been preparing for the coming September all summer, some changes started in the spring. A relevant issue is the modernization of intersections by removing the green arrows at the traffic lights. We plan that by September, additional traffic light sections to the right will be installed at all 17 intersections, which we had planned to modernize. The new traffic organization at these intersections will increase the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, besides, the changes are also important in terms of bandwidth and congestion reduction," says Aleksej Apanovič, head of the City Traffic Organization Department of "Susiasiekimo paslaugos" SĮ.
A. Apanovič adds that since September last year, more than 90 changes to traffic light regulation and management programs have been implemented for more efficient flow regulation. In order for all road users - drivers, pedestrians, cyclists - to move safely at intersections, the newly installed Pilaitė Ave. – Pilkalnios st., Pavilnionių – Perkūnkiemios st. intersections. Ateities - Visorių g., Lvovo - Gegužės 3-osios g. are also being renovated. intersections, reconstruction works are underway in Liepkalnis - Žirnių - Minsko st., Žirmūnų - Minties - Šilo st., Apkasaņu - Minties st. at intersections. In the summer, additional "green wave" performance checks were also carried out.
After the introduction of the loop traffic organization procedure in the city center, the average weekday traffic flow in the old town currently down about 6 percent, and the morning peak is almost 10 percent. Additional driver education about loop traffic is scheduled for September, and educational institutions located in its zone and approaches are already being informed. In addition, several smart cameras will be installed on the loop roads until September, which will read the number plates of the cars - this is part of the future traffic control.
As every year, police assistance will be used at roundabouts in September, forces will be strengthened to respond promptly to traffic accidents or other traffic-disturbing incidents.
Practical tips for drivers
The most intense traffic flows are predicted Ukmergė st., Gelezinio Vilko St., Ozo str., Kalvariju st. T. Narbuto St., Oslo St., Pilaitė Ave. These are the main transport axes of the city - 70 to 120 thousand people cross them per day. means of transportation.
Drivers are reminded to keep these rules in mind.
- Concentrate, do not engage in extraneous actions when driving, do not exceed the speed limit, stop at crossings.
- Respond to traffic lights in time, choose the right lane in advance and don't line up every time cars start moving in the other lane. Such maneuvering causes additional downtime, the probability of traffic accidents increases, and bandwidth decreases.
- For movement in the city, choose the capital's record-breaking public transport, bicycles, walking tours or other alternative methods. If you're traveling by car, try one of the four Park and Ride locations and continue your journey by public transport.
- Drive more responsibly and more environmentally friendly. Do not travel alone, plan joint trips with family members and colleagues. If the average car was filled with at least 2,5-3 people, the traffic on the streets could be reduced by almost two times.
- Needless to say do not take the "Parent stops" located near educational institutions (Kiss &Ride), designed to quickly and safely drop off or pick up children.
- In the event of a traffic accident, save time for all road users. If the circumstances of the incident are sufficiently clear, it is recommended to draw diagrams in the declaration, for drivers to sign and, if possible, to pull vehicles to the side of the road or a nearby parking lot. In this way, you will safely fill in the rest of the information and not disturb the movement of other road users.
"Transportation Services" shares various open databases and invites you to familiarize yourself with the constantly updated traffic situation in the city:
- Busiest city intersections: https://www.sviesoforai.lt/intensyvumas/
- Traffic flows from sensor data: https://www.sviesoforai.lt/transporto-srautai/
- Hourly flows: https://www.sviesoforai.lt/valandiniai-transporto-srautai/
What is important for public transport passengers, cyclists and pedestrians to know?
"Transport services" constantly monitors passenger flows and movement trends in the city due to the epidemiological situation. As September approaches, public transport timetables, bus and trolleybus capacity will continue to be ensured for safe travel – especially during the morning and evening rush hours. The latest timetables are planned from September 1st and more detailed information about them will be published in the last week of August. Next, in the first weeks of autumn, public transport organization specialists will carefully monitor all routes, the distribution of passengers on them - additional adjustments to the schedules will be made if necessary. As always, passengers will find the latest schedules www.stops.lt
The release and frequency of public transport itself is planned after assessing various factors - passenger flows, real-time movement of routes, requests from passengers and institutions, and others. Before September, specialists actively cooperate with educational and training institutions, monitor the organization of their work specifically this September, so that the movement of schoolchildren and students is comfortable and smooth. As every year, temporary changes to public transport movement are planned due to autumn events in the city, such as "Sostinės dienos", "Danske Bank Vilniaus maratonas" and others, as well as due to ongoing road or other repair works. Citizens are informed about them separately.
It is reminded that protective face masks must be worn in buses and trolleybuses, as in other public closed spaces. Passengers will find hand sanitizer in each vehicle, both at stops and in public transport please keep a safe distance, plan your trips by choosing less crowded routes, travel times: https://bit.ly/planuokitesVTkeliones
This summer, 50 economical, modern design and comfortable new buses were delivered, a significant number of them are already carrying passengers. After the completion of this renovation phase in September, more than 70 percent of the cars will be running in the city. new buses.
Over the past 4 years, more than 50 km of bicycle paths have been built and renovated in Vilnius, with a total of over 93 km in the city. Only until 2023 it is planned to build the remaining missing connections and have a completed network of main bicycle paths in the city, so that the largest part of Vilnius residents can cycle from home to work and elsewhere without interruption. There are also more and more pedestrians in the city - last year in Vilnius, almost 20 km of sidewalks were repaired for comfortable movement on foot, another 17 km of them were newly built, and the next plan is the renovation and installation of another 34 km of sidewalks.
This summer, Vilnius introduced the name that unites all modes of mobility in the capital - JUDU. It will gradually combine different mobility services in the capital "under one umbrella". JUDU's motto "Around the city in a simple way" indicates the philosophy and purpose for Vilnius residents - to unite and make all existing and future areas of mobility more convenient: public transport, car traffic, trips by bicycles, scooters and other forms of mobility that will be born in the city. Learn more about the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan and JUDU: www.judu.lt/vilnius
