Temporary closure of parts of the city’s road network to vehicle traffic has allow and stimulate communication among local authorities, the public and other stakeholders such as shopkeepers in the city centre. It has facilitated the development of procedures, rules and regulations, as well as a structure for establishing pedestrian areas. Research has been done within measures G1.2 Community project studies from the SUMP and G3.1 Traffic model development to expand Gdynia's SUMP, on the scope and timeframe for closing Starowiejska Street and/or Swiętojanska Street in the tourist area of the city centre. The necessary traffic reorganisation has been developed by Gdansk University of Technology.
The main activities within the preparation and planning of the measure involved:
- Preparation and verification of documentation and designs
- Conducting a survey to find out citizens’ opinions on closing selected streets for traffic in the city centre
- Collection of the necessary data on traffic management and volumes
- Consultations with local authorities, local community and stakeholders
- Preparation of traffic in the city centre reorganisation
- Set up of test closures on selected streets and temporary traffic reorganisation
- Workshops for residents and entrepreneurs and other interested parties
- Surveys on pedestrians and walking
Implementation & demonstration
Closing the streets with traffic reorganization in the city centre will be implemented after the successful consultation with the public and after the procedures, rules and regulations and structure for setting up the pedestrian areas have been developed.
During the implementation phase the following tasks has been executed:
- Implement the pilot project of the temporary pedestrian zone
- Prepare a report on the pilot project, including opinions of citizens and other stakeholders (i.e. shopkeepers)