Summary sheet
The project comprises the following components: 1. the acquisition of fifty (50) electric buses (42 standard buses and 8 articulated buses), the construction of an electric bus depot including charging infrastructure for 50 vehicles and the construction of charging infrastructure at final stops. 2. the acquisition of on-board and on-road units for the control of traffic light-signaling systems for bus prioritization; and 3. the refurbishment of the main mobility hub of the city of Klagenfurt, Heiligengeisplatz, to reallocate more space and priority to public transport and soft modes.
By improving public transport competitiveness and attractiveness in the city of Klagenfurt, the project aims to reduce reliance on private cars and the negative impact of transport on the local environment.
The manufacturing of the new e-buses and the deployment of the necessary charging infrastructure do not fall within the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (Directive 2014/52/EU amending Directive 2011/92/EU). Therefore, no EIA is required for these components. Arrangements for the scrapping of the decommissioned old diesel busses will be further assessed during appraisal. The construction of the new e-bus depot falls under Annex II of the EIA directive under which the environmental competent authority decides on a case-by-case approach whether a formal EIA is required. This aspect will be verified during the project's appraisal as well as the possible impacts, if any, on biodiversity in relation to the application of the Habitats and Birds Directives (92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC respectively). Contributing to the increase of public transport's modal share, with zero emission vehicles, the project is expected to have a positive environmental impact and contribute to reduce GHG emissions.
The promoter has to ensure that contracts for implementation of the project will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/24/EU or Directive 2014/25/EU as well as Directive 92/13/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the EU, as and where required.