Sofia City Hall Halts Public Transportation Shuttles

Currently there are 350 shuttles servicing 29 routes in Bulgaria's capital Sofia. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Sofia City Hall is planning to end the use of shuttles in public transportation after their contracts expire in the summer of 2011.

The Deputy Mayor for Transportation, Lyubomir Hristov, says the extension of the metro to the Mladost 1 district had resulted in a serious reduction in the numbers of passengers using the shuttles, which are now obsolete in a city like Sofia.

Hristov further says the shuttles use any routes they wish; impede downtown traffic, and run old vehicles.

The shuttles will be replaced by small buses to connect the capital's districts with the metro and the major public transportation bus lines.

The fare for the small buses will be valid for the metro ride as well – passengers will pay BGN 1 for using both.

This will also ease up the heavy Sofia traffic since it is expected more people will chose public transportation over driving.

The short buses will be able to enter narrow neighborhood streets.

The City Hall is still deciding if they will provide these buses or will announce a public tender.

The shuttles operate in Sofia since 1999. Currently there are 350 shuttles servicing 29 routes.

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