Cagliari Metro: A dispute erupts between the Region and the Municipality over the Via Roma subway line.

The regional Department of Transport says it's unacceptable: "A scenario involving the mixed use of current bus traffic and the future tram line is unacceptable." The Municipality, however, strengthened by a Council mandate, is stepping up its pace but must await the opinion of the national agency for rail transport safety.

Just days after the start of the subway construction on Via Roma, the idea of a "mixed" center lane, where both subway cars and public transport could pass, separating them from car traffic, remains a puzzle. Cagliari residents are preparing to deal, starting Monday, with further disruptions due to traffic disrupted by the construction site, and with work in Piazza Matteotti looming under the threat of a possible (for now ruled out) suspension following archaeological finds.

The Municipality

"Our idea remains to allow at least two lines to pass, specifically bus rapid transport," explains Mobility Councilor Yuri Marcialis. "This is why we have requested an opinion from Ansfisa," the national agency for rail transport safety, "regarding the road section envisaged by the project, and we are awaiting a response on whether the lane can be maintained for traffic. In any case, even if the opinion is negative, we believe it is important to maintain the possibility of using the lane for contingent needs or emergency situations."

The replica

"Given that the use of urban roads is the prerogative of municipal administrations," the Region explains, "the Department of Transport promotes the development of traffic and intersection regulations aimed at ensuring the speed and regularity of public transport by road and rail. In the case of Via Roma, it is clear that the current bus lane is insufficient to accommodate the high flow of buses that travel there daily. For this reason," the statement continues, "the approved light rail project provides for the exclusive use of the infrastructure by trams and priority traffic lights over vehicle traffic."

CTM and ARST buses, therefore, will use the side lanes, as will happen starting tomorrow evening. "Nonetheless, the Department is evaluating, together with ARST, the feasibility of making the railway infrastructure currently under construction structurally and dimensionally suitable for bus transit, similar to what is done at road intersections where the tram line is crossed by vehicular traffic of all types. This means strengthening the infrastructure's structural component without necessarily planning for mixed use, but simply to ensure that any need for its use," such as by emergency vehicles, "is not impeded by structural engineering issues, rather than transportation-related ones. All the conditions are in place to ensure an efficient separation of road and rail components for the benefit of citizens."

Mauro Madeddu