Accelerated strategy implementation and new challenges

Moscow is changing. The city is becoming busier, more active, and more mobile each year. We have all witnessed what it means for a city to be comfortable for its residents, so now Mostrans faces new tasks — to make Moscow even better, more comfortable, and environmentally friendly.

Not so long ago, in 2010, upon exiting a metro station you would find yourself in the middle of a chaotic open-air market which led to a disorderly parking lot, rather than on the streets along which you can walk peacefully and safely. That is why a car became Moscow residents’ favourite mode of transport — not only could it shield one from the city’s uneasy ambience of those times, but it could also bring them to work, shops, or anywhere else. The number of cars consequently exceeded the quantity for which the historical street and road network was planned, and the city’s public transport failed to meet modern requirements and was no longer popular. Moscow was associated with permanent discomfort and desperately needed change.

Now in 2018, Moscow is an open and friendly city. City residents using public transport have reached 70% of Moscow’s population, more and more people are satisfied with the quality of public transport services, the amount of pedestrians in the city has tripled, and 25,000 trips are made on rental bicycles each day. We all like new, modern rolling stock, value-added passenger services, dedicated lanes, cosy bus stops, and convenient pavements and wayfinding signage.

But there is still much work to do. Reliance on cars is still a significant problem in Moscow, which should be addressed both through development and provision of a decent alternative, as the excessive number of cars has resulted in congestion and increased pollution.

We all want to live in a clean city and breathe fresh air, which is extremely difficult with 3.6 million cars filling the city roads on a daily basis. The reduction of cars driving daily in the city by 300,000 to 500,000 will help improve the quality of life of Muscovites.

So we have encouraged and will continue to encourage residents to use their cars wisely while we continue to provide affordable and comfortable public transport services comprising well-developed underground and surface metro system and road infrastructure, and a convenient network of surface transport services such as taxi services, urban bicycle rental, and short-term car rental (Moscow Car Sharing) services.

At the same time, the city’s unified integrated transport system is becoming more flexible and takes each resident’s needs into consideration.

Today, Moscow steadily follows its aim to develop all modes of healthy and eco-friendly transport. Electric buses — truly harmless to the environment — will be launched in 2018, and we will stop purchasing diesel buses altogether by 2021.

Do we want to see Moscow as a healthy and comfortable city? I believe every one of us should answer this question, not only the Moscow Government, but also the city residents. Our ardent wish is that Moscow residents live in the world’s best city, and we will put in maximum effort so that it is comfortable, healthy, and convenient for all.