The Barcelona City Council, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), and the Generalitat have finally found a solution for the accumulation of buses on Ronda Universitat. This situation had long drawn criticism from residents, who complained about the noise, congestion, pollution, and crowds on the sidewalks caused by these vehicles.
[subscribe_newsletter_esp]
The current terminals for lines such as Lleida-Berga-Puigcerdà and Castelldefels-Port Ginesta will no longer be on Ronda Universitat, and will be relocated to other areas of the city starting next February 8. With this intervention, which will shift the start and end stops of eleven of the fifteen lines operating on the ronda, almost 60% of the trips made in this area will be reduced.
The change will coincide with the second phase of the works being carried out to remodel Ronda Universitat, which began in November and are expected to last until March. The reform projected by the Barcelona City Council, with a budget of 350,000 euros, will widen sidewalks and reduce two car lanes, gaining 1,730 square meters of pedestrian space and improving walking commutes and commercial activity in the area. In addition, about 60 pots with trees will be placed, elements that had never before been present in this part of the city. The works are being carried out in two phases: so far the sea side has been reformed and from February they will begin on the mountain side.
Changes in lines
The eleven affected lines, all managed by the AMB and the Generalitat, will change their terminal to a new location and some will add new intermediate stops. The Lleida-Berga-Puigcerdà line, operated by Alsa, will move to Estació del Nord and new intermediate stops will be included on Passeig de Gràcia (at the height of Diputació) and Gran Via (at the height of Balmes). The lines going towards Olesa-Manresa (Barcelona-Abrera-Olesa-Manresa; e22 exprés Manresa and e23 exprés Olesa, all three operated by Monbus) will be relocated from Ronda Universitat to Plaça Maria Cristina, enabling an intermediate stop on Gran Via (at the height of Balmes).
On the other hand, the Castelldefels-Port Ginesta line, operated by Mohn, will move to Sants station. The non-express Maresme lines (C3 - Vilassar de Dalt; C4 Premià de Mar and C6 Cabrils, operated by Moventis) will be relocated to Gran Via (at the height of Pau Claris). The lines connecting with Garraf (e14 Sant Pere de Ribes, e15.1 Vilanova i la Geltrú and e16 Sitges, operated by Cintoi Bus) will be relocated from the Ronda to Gran Via (at the height of Aribau).
With the reorganization of these eleven lines, only four lines will remain on Ronda Universitat, which will be provisionally moved to Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Universitat while the transformation works of the Ronda are carried out.