The construction of a third railway tunnel, between the Morrot and the França station, and the creation of 30 park-and-ride parking lots in 25 municipalities close to the capital are the most outstanding proposals put forward by the Republican candidacy led by Ernest Maragall to improve mobility in Barcelona. The politician highlighted this morning, in an act in front of Sants station, that said tunnel, just over two kilometers long, would make it easier to increase the capacity of the Rodalies network by 50%.
This project would make it possible to connect the Rodalies del Baix Llobregat and Maresme lines, relieving the congestion suffered by the two tunnels that cross the city and making it possible to increase frequencies.
Maragall, together with the Minister of Territories, Juli Fernàndez, and the mayor of ERC of Terrassa, Ona Martínez, have once again demanded the transfer of Rodalies. "Since January, incidents have affected more than 850,000 displacements," Martínez recalled. Fernàndez added that during the first four months of 2023 "there have only been 22 days without serious incidents".
"The incompetence is so evident," Maragall said, reiterating that this "disaster" will only end with the transfer of powers. He has also criticized that the current partners in the municipal government, the commons and the PSC, have not defended the interests of the city before the central Executive, with the same composition. "It is a scandal that they do not exert pressure in Madrid," the veteran politician stressed.
The other proposal of the Republican candidacy focuses on the implementation of 30 park-and-rides in 25 municipalities, the majority in the metropolitan area, which, in his opinion, would be decisive in reducing the 500,000 vehicles that access the capital every day. These car parks would be connected to public transport. Some of the locations proposed are Sant Celoni, Maçanet de la Selva, L'Arboç, Vilanova i la Geltrú or Martorell. Maragall considers that a large investment would not be necessary, that institutional agreements should be sought and, regarding the price for the user, he opted for an affordable rate without ruling out free.
Referring to the statement by the leader of Junts, Laura Borràs, that Maragall is acting because of his criticism of the PSC, the Republican has replied that "the one who flaunts a pact with Collboni is Trias." “The danger that Barcelonans have is socio-vergence, the wet dream of the great economic powers”, he has sentenced.
