Traffic in Nikšić has been becoming an increasing problem for years, requiring urgent and immediate measures, Ratko Dubljević, candidate for councilor of the "HURRAY - DIFFERENT - Dušan Golović!" list, announced today.
"There are many reasons for such a situation: from poor and uncoordinated planning documentation and inadequate traffic infrastructure, to the fact that numerous facilities are not present in all parts of the city (schools, health centers, hospitals, administration, etc.). Therefore, immediately after taking over the municipal administration, we will resolve the traffic issue through several quick, realistic and necessary steps," Dubljević emphasized in a statement submitted by the Civic Movement URA.
He cites the purchase of a large number of new buses and vans, as well as the establishment of a municipal transport company, as the first step.
"The purchase of a large number of new, modern eco-buses and vans, of various sizes, which will be air-conditioned and accessible to people with reduced mobility, is necessary so that buses can provide even better public transport in urban areas, while vans can cover rural parts of our Municipality and reach even the most remote villages. And in parallel, only by establishing a municipal company that will manage public transport can we guarantee long-term quality and continuity of necessary investments," said Dubljević.
He said that purchasing a larger number of buses will enable the introduction of twice the number of bus lines, as well as shortening the waiting period for buses to arrive.
"In order for citizens to use public transport and leave their cars at home more often, it must be accessible, affordable and reliable. This means that the existing number of lines is not enough, which is why it must be drastically increased and better positioned, and that buses must arrive at stops at regular intervals, every ten minutes in the urban core, and no later than 20 minutes in rural parts of Nikšić. Only in this way, when citizens, without looking at timetables and tracking on Google Maps, can know that a bus will always arrive at the bus stop at a certain time and that these arrivals are reliable, can we motivate citizens to use public transport, knowing that they will arrive on time to complete all their daily obligations, without unplanned delays," said Dubljević.
He added that in addition to these steps, they are also planning to introduce a "bike sharing" system and expand the cycling infrastructure in Nikšić.
"As soon as possible, we will enter into communication with leading European and global companies that implement the 'bike sharing' system in cities in Europe and the region, and then issue a call for the establishment of the same system in Nikšić. In this way, as well as through the expansion of adequate, seriously planned and safe cycling infrastructure, we can motivate thousands of our fellow citizens to use bicycles and carry out their daily obligations with them. Our Nikšić is ideal for cycling - as a primary means of transportation, so every investment in such a project brings great and direct benefits. We will also launch activities to create and install bicycle garages in all parts of the city, which represents a very small, but useful investment, so that bicycle owners can safely, quickly and easily park their bicycles in front of their homes," says Dubljević.
He points out that he will also introduce a system of adaptive AI traffic light regulation.
"By the middle of this year, we will announce a tender for the introduction of 'smart traffic lights' in our city, i.e. adaptive traffic light management, which will use artificial intelligence to extend the duration of the green light (when there are no pedestrians waiting in line) and communicate with other traffic lights on every city route. The first test project will be implemented on the Vuk Mićunović and 13. jula boulevards, and Vuka Karadžića Street, and immediately after that - applied to all other traffic lights in the city, in order to speed up traffic flow and save time," Dubljević emphasized.
He said that solving traffic problems in Nikšić only requires a little effort and good will, which, he added, the previous municipal leadership did not know or could not solve.
"If we want Nikšić to develop in a sustainable and functional way, we must solve these problems without any delay. Anything else would mean maintaining the existing traffic dysfunction and further worsening the problem. Therefore, traffic in our Nikšić must be more modern, better and different," Dubljević stated.
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