Vilnius Metro

Overview
Locale| Vilnius, Lithuania
Transit type| Rapid transit
Number of lines| 3
| System map

Vilnius Metro (Lithuanian: Vilniaus metropolitenas) is a proposed rapid transit system in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Three lines are currently proposed to connect the busiest and most populous city districts.[1][2] Its purpose is the relief of traffic congestion, which increased significantly in the 1990s and 2000s.[3][4]

Although test drilling for a proposed Vilnius Metro had been conducted along a 50 metre stretch of Gediminas Avenue near the city's main railway station during the Soviet era,[5] the current proposal dates to 2001 when then-Mayor of Vilnius Artūras Zuokas requested international support for a feasibility study of the proposed system. The proposal was approved as part of the city's master plan by the Vilnius Municipal Council in 2002.[6] Systra was chosen by the city as a study partner; the Scott Wilson Group conducted a public-private financing feasibility study during 2005 and 2006.[7][8]

As of 2007, the project was the subject of intense debate by politicians and citizens. The concerns include cost (an estimated €890,000,000 (equivalent to €1,223,250,000 in 2021), the possibility that vibrations would damage the historic buildings in Vilnius Old Town, and the perception that streets would be closed.[9] The project was accepted by the Lithuanian government on a concession basis in 2014,[10] but the Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė placed a veto on the law.[11]

In 2018 the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania enacted a new act of metro development that went into effect on 1 January 2020.[12] This act allows private investors to start construction of metro transit systems in Lithuania. The projects would have to be implemented by municipalities, which would be able to buy up to 50 per cent of shares of the construction companies. The projects would be developed in partnership or concession of the state and private companies.[13]

## Proposed lines

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1. Pilaitė-Centre
2. Pašilaičiai-Central station-Lazdynai (A circle line)
3. Justiniškės-Antakalnis

## See also

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* Riga Metro

## References

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1. ^ "Vilnius is Becoming a Bridge Between Eastern and Western Europe". Vilnius city municipality. 2002. Retrieved 2008-10-04. "A new and modern means of transportation to be introduced into Vilnius City in the near future is considered now. That is the fast tramway, the routes of which shall connect the main city districts with the centre and workplaces."
2. ^ "Metro šalininkai siūlo Vilniui tris linijas ir tiltą" (in Lithuanian). delfi.lt. 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
3. ^ "Tramvajus ar metropolitenas Vilniaus urbanistinėje struktū roje" (PDF) (in Lithuanian). Gediminas Technical University. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
4. ^ "Riga and Vilnius tackle traffic". The Baltic Times. 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
5. ^ https://www.aidas.lt/lt/transportas/article/12610-05-24-kas-trukdo-vilniaus-metro-statybai
6. ^ "Seminar: Planning for Sustainable Transport" (PDF). Association for European Transport. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2008-10-04. "In September 2001, Systra has been chosen to assist the Municipality in defining a LRT scheme and design the technical characteristics of the first line."
7. ^ "Preparation of feasibility study for Vilnius Tram Project financing by the private sector, Lithuania". Scott Wilson Group. Archived from the original on 2007-05-29. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
8. ^ "Outline of the 'Vilnius Tram Project'" (PDF). UNESCO. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
9. ^ "A tram ride into the future". The Baltic Times. 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
10. ^ "Правительство одобрило проект метро в Вильнюсе". DELFI. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
11. ^ Aukštuolytė, Stasys Gudavičius, Rima. "Prezidentė vetavo Metropoliteno įstatymą". vz.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2018-08-02.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. ^ "XIII-1603 Lietuvos Respublikos metropoliteno įgyvendinimo įstatymas". e-seimas.lrs.lt. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
13. ^ BNS (2020-04-03). "Vilniaus metro siūloma pripažinti ypatingos svarbos projektu". MadeinVilnius.lt - Vilniaus naujienų dienoraštis (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2020-04-03.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vilnius Metro.

* Vilnius Metro project – a non-governmental organization that is popularizing the idea of a metro in Vilnius

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