Maxim Liksutov on the development prospects of the road transport system of Moscow
Like any metropolis, Moscow has to solve a lot of problems. Is ecology, construction, utilities and transport, of course. None of the capital has not yet managed to completely get rid of traffic jams, but that doesn’t mean that fighting them is pointless. Decisions there can be very different from the congestion charge in the center to free use of public transport for those who left your car at the Park and ride. What direction is Moscow’s transport system, the Tape.<url>” said the Deputy mayor, head of the Department of transportation and development of road transport infrastructure Maxim Liksutov.
The entry fee
.<url>: the Profile Committee of the state Duma approved the law on the congestion in the city centre. When to wait?
Liksutov: While this is not necessary. There is another set of measures in the field of urban transport development that will need to take before you can see where to go next, and to introduce additional regulatory measures.
That is, until a paid entry into Moscow in the near future will bring?
Now this not even an issue on the agenda in the transport sector. The current system of urban transport can and should be configured so that it worked more efficiently. This is our task for today.
Road repair and
On the one hand, the city authorities try to solve the problem of traffic jams, and with another — to narrow the carriageway in favour of pedestrian zones.
Do not think that would be worse. On the contrary. Because traffic in the city is mathematics, not chaos. The underlying basis here — hydrodynamic model on the roads governed by the same principles. The model we use when we count the phases of traffic lights. And designing the road network, we measure the throughput of the pipe or street to narrowest area. We have a lot of streets, where four to five lanes narrowed to three. What does that mean? This means that the capacity of this road is three lanes. And if so, then the “extra” area is better to give to the needs of pedestrians and Parking.
Here we take Tverskaya street. You turned to her with moss. Here the same five bands, and then they are narrowed to three. Bandwidth, therefore, on this street three stripes. Five bands at the beginning are meaningless if there is no right turn. Therefore, in Tver will be taxis that are now gone.
We give the whole normal transport logic, conducting a pre-simulation and comprehensive analysis. Realizing that need, how that works.
When renovations are over in metro stations and why it is taking so long?
Repair is always uncomfortable. He’s always annoying. At first we planned cosmetic work to clean the tile, change light fixtures. Thought I would be able to finish. In some stations, and it did. On the other after removing the tiles from the stairs it turned out that everything is structurally sound. As a result, the volume of repairs we have grown almost 30 percent. And we couldn’t afford to completely block the station.
Photo: urban news Agency “Moscow”
Now 50 stations refurbished completely. The rest will be finished by the autumn. Better to do this once, but quality. And those same stairs even 50-60 years not to return.
Lord of the rings
This year will start the srmr, the Moscow Central ring. I believe this will be popular?
The line will open in autumn. I have no doubt that passengers will appreciate the convenience of the transfer to commuter trains and the metro. First earn 14 direct underground and 6 in suburban areas. We analyzed which of the transplants needed in the first place. Not everyone needs to go by metro to the city center, and is now virtually the only opportunity to transfer to another branch is a circular line. As a transplant from the metro to the Moscow Central ring further will not be paid, it is actually a 14 line metro.
The new ring has the supply capacity for many years will still be quite large. The train has air conditioning, soft seat, toilet, Wi-Fi. As fare as the subway.
Possible to integrate the commuter trains in the urban transportation system?
Yes. For example Kazan direction. Now for holders of season tickets the fare from Moscow region to the Kazan station and to the platform of Vyhino the same. This allowed to unload the eponymous metro station.
With colleagues from the Railways we are in constant dialogue, and we have built a great relationship. In the city there are bottlenecks that do not allow to increase the number of trains — neck Central stations. Accordingly, the run the srmr and the opportunity to transfer to him with commuter trains, which will allow to make so that not all passengers were stopped at the stations. Then you can increase the number of commuter trains on the busiest routes is the Kazan, Kursk, Yaroslavl, Gorky.
The launch of the new ring involves the integration of not only the metro and commuter trains. We will change a number of buses that they drove to the stations of MK MZHD.
But if passengers are still not interested in the new ring?
When I worked in the government of Moscow, was the project “Aeroexpress” from Belorussky station to Sheremetyevo airport. At that time the road to the airport has always been unpredictable in duration. Launched Aeroexpress, and he began to drive to the airport in 36 minutes, departing every half hour. A year and a half the download was even at peak times 30 percent. I was accused that we carry the air. Now all use “Aeroexpress”.
Test the movement of electric trains “Lastochka” at srmr
Photo: urban news Agency “Moscow”
It is impossible to provide a complete load, if this is a new service, a new service. People are very conservative and long used to the routes. Especially conservative Muscovites. And we understand that a year or two a new ring will not be heavily loaded. First we run here petiverana trains, capable of carrying 300 million passengers a year. Then you can use on the same line desjatilopastnye trains and increase the capacity more than two times. The Moscow Central ring has all the prerequisites to change the perception of citizens on urban transport. It’s a lot of advantages in moving around the city is the most modern and comfortable rolling stock, convenient hubs for ground transportation, subway and commuter trains, the strict implementation of the schedule.
For the first time will be introduced in Moscow transport infrastructure with a huge supply capacity. It will last for 10 years or 15. The area around MCC, which is now not in the best condition, just come to life. There will be new shopping malls, offices, housing. This project is the largest in the field of passenger transport in Russia in the past and probably in the coming 10 years.
All you have to pay
Whether to expand the paid Parking zone?
Possible point of extension. But specific locations have not yet.
We are considering options of reducing the loading on certain problem streets within the Boulevard ring. One of them is the further spread of the progressive tariff, have proven effective. The more you are, the more you pay. There is logic in this. There is also the experience of other cities. You don’t always need to learn from their mistakes, if it is possible to spy on someone.
In fact, all perfectly understand the need for change. In any European capital Parking fee.
A vehicle evacuation is required?
It’s not a punishment, it is a procedural measure provided for by the Cao. The driver left the car, creating problems for thousands of other road users, perhaps it’s worth it to remove the offense by evacuation. And corny to remove the congestion on the road due to this violation.
But I want to tell you that you now have less to violate, the number of evacuations of the same machine from the same place (that happened a lot sooner) reduced.
Where the machine does not stop, quite fine. Many people don’t think, but if you leave the car in the paid Parking zone and did not pay, the fine is 2500 roubles. And if set there, where Parking is prohibited, some 3,000 rubles. Evacuate now, where, among other things, there is a sign warning of the possibility of such a procedure.
Maxim Liksutov
Photo: Arseniy Neskhodimov for “Tape.<url>”
Wouldn’t the problem be solved by development of the road network?
There is another problem. Here’s a simple example: we have a living space with kitchen. Can we put two fridges? Not always. We, when we buy appliances, we understand exactly where its put. And not leave her in the stairwell. And many, buying a car, do not think about where to put it. Like, somewhere in the yard. And there are countries where it is strictly regulated. You can’t buy a car unless you have Parking spaces.
People are not very calm references to foreign experience.
We have changes coming too quickly, and therefore perceived so negatively. But I do know that no one raises the question about the need for paid Parking or not. It has benefited, and everybody understands that.
This is the assessment of Russian experts involved in monitoring performance indicators. Only difference is the percentages. There are and international experts, which can hardly be blamed for sympathizing with the government of Moscow. They recognize that capital of Russia every year improves their performance, although the number of personal vehicles between 2010 and 2015 increased by a million. The number of people using all kinds of public transport and taxi passengers increased over the same period to 630 million. A huge figure, and we have much to be proud of.
In the city there should be no personal cars?
We understand that a city without a personal vehicle can not live. There are those who need a car. Because of the circumstances, work and so on. Those who need to go should have the opportunity. But not only that. They still need to provide a Parking space wherever they go.
To avoid creating traffic jams o traffic when you are driving very slowly, looking for a Parking space), approximately one-fifth of Parking should always be free. It is governed by affordability.
Here, for example, the same Tverskaya street. Is there Parking at the hotel Ritz. It is even in rush hour loaded only by 60 percent, and it is private Parking.
Reconstruction schelkovskogo highway
Photo: urban news Agency “Moscow”
Paid Parking bring a solid income.
The administration of Moscow Parking space is a non — profit company, our aim is not to earn money to pay Parking. All the money from the car Park we immediately transfer to the district on whose territory it is located.
Paid Parking is mainly provides the legitimate right of residents to Park near their homes. By the way, we are now conducting an experiment with Parking for residents only. Made of about fifty. House chose is very simple: where there is no underground Parking and courtyard. But we still have to learn a Parking administer, to control. So we are talking about the experiment.
The issue of Parking will be the first for many years, and I have to talk about it. To prove, clearly and convincingly explain our actions.
Pedal
The city is developing a network of Bicycle, open a new path, but the possibility of transporting bicycles in the metro is still limited.
The city has many stations deep zalozhenija. On the escalator with a length of 50 meters, the probability of rolling a Bicycle poses a threat, and determines that the prohibition. The bike must be either disassembled or folded. And here nothing will change.
In land transport, trains and the new Moscow Central ring — carry indefinitely.
Photo: urban news Agency “Moscow”
And if people come in for a shallow station and will pass through the entire center, comfort stations with long escalators?
You know, if we were with such a level of self-awareness, as you say, we have a lot of things would be perceived not so painful… We’ll expand the urban system of Bicycle rentals for the entire city.
Now we try out the city bikes. 150 pieces. Based on the experience of Milan, where this type of transport is very popular. E-bikes help to where it is hard to pedal yourself. About the price I can’t tell yet. I think that in the first stage, tariffs do not change much. If there is a demand, extend the project.
Car sharing and taxi
There was a scandal with the car-share relates to the fact that these vehicles are insured by CTP, and not the hull. Do you have the ability to influence these companies?
No such powers. This is a private project, we have done for them benefits for Parking, provided they comply with certain requirements to the quality of the machine.
Popular is this service?
Muscovites these machines are used. Their number has increased more than six fold: from 100 to 650. By the end of the year we expect one and a half thousand. The company, which has been discussed in the media, not the only one. In the Moscow car-share them for five, and they compete in the market as taxi companies. I am sure that people have plenty to choose from.
And again. Take one car-share. In the day it is about five trips. So, five people did not go to his personal car — it’s a great story for the city.
Photo: urban news Agency “Moscow”
Tell us about the current state of urban taxi.
Now we are closer to a cab of the city lacked. At any time of the day or night you went out onto a busy highway, must at the same time to see three cars with checkered. No matter they are busy or free. This means that taxi drivers enough. If more than three, then that’s even better.
The cost of a taxi for two years we have decreased by 30 percent. And the quality of services has grown substantially. There was competition, there was a mobile aggregators. Legal taxi drivers themselves began to squeeze out illegal immigrants. If earlier the city had 70 percent of the “bomb”, now about 85 percent legitimate carriers.
Entrance time for a taxi at rush hour was reduced from 25 to 7 minutes. This is a great indicator. The popularity of this type of transport is growing. The number of trips per day by taxi the city has already reached 300 thousand.
Buses and taxis
What is the strategy for the development of ground public transport?
We are constantly updating our network. Try to increase the number of trains, number of seats in transport vehicles. Routes change: opened a school, a hospital, built a house — they need to make a route.
The task set by the mayor — to increase by 30 percent the number of passengers to ground transportation. This is to ensure that the journey there was more enjoyable. If your car ahead in traffic in a dedicated lane scored a jam-Packed bus or obscure, twisted bus, then you will not have the desire to take public transport. We want to see empty seats in a modern comfortable bus and seriously think about this option around the city.
To do this, and started the current revolution in urban transportation. We translate today, bus to work on the contract. The operator assigned to objectivate all and to come clearly within the period to execute the schedule, to ensure the cleanliness of the cabin, passenger comfort and safety. For this, the city will pay. Without reference to the number of passengers. But if passengers there will be more, we’ll pay a premium. Motivate attract new passengers to the front of their nose did not close the door. And operate new buses by ticket only with all city rates and benefits.
Photo: urban news Agency “Moscow”
The interests of pedestrians and drivers often do not coincide. How to find a compromise?
All drivers are also pedestrians. In Moscow, about 70 percent of all trips made by public transport and only 30 for personal. And the number of passengers using surface transport is growing faster than those who use metro. And soon, ground transportation will be equal to the subway. Maybe in 5-6 years. Even taking into account the programme of metro development.
This balance of interests, we must provide given the situation. We understand what needs to be done to increase the comfort and attractiveness of public transport, but are keenly aware that personal transport in the city should be.
We also know that in any metropolis in the world, comparable with Moscow, could not completely get rid of the caps. Even in London, where the entrance to city centre paid. The density of the road network is many times less than in the UK capital. Moscow is simply not designed for so many cars. And we this problem will not be able to solve for density. In most cases, to lay a new road or substantially increase the bandwidth on existing will not work — against the approach roads to their homes are residents.
The streets need to go or to stand? That’s what we should be honest each other to ask.
