Slobodna Dalmacija reports on March 3, 2019, that professor Dražen Cvitanić, head of the Department of Roads at the Split Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Geodesy, claims that Split is getting themselves into a proper traffic disaster if they move the current bus station to Kopilica.
The professor came to this end after following the traffic on Hercegovačka Street on February 28 and March 1 (Thursday and Friday) from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., and historical traffic intensity data.
At the FGAG Roads Department, a traffic simulation was developed in the event the bus station and surrounding parking lots for personal and taxi vehicles, as well as tourist buses on Kopilica, were constructed.
The simulation shows that in the afternoon peak period, it is practically impossible to enter Hercegovačka Street from the bus station and/or the parking lot because the intensity of traffic in the direction of Solin is greater than 1000 vehicles per hour, and in the direction of Split, more than 700 vehicles per hour, leaving no sufficient time gaps for safe engagement. The situation is similar in the morning only with reverse traffic distribution.
“Also, due to additional bus, taxi and passenger transport, there is a realistic situation that today, large columns of vehicles further propagate to upstream intersections on Stinice by blocking traffic to the exit from the central part of the city throughout the year,” said Cvitanić, and adds that at the same time, it is vitally important to relocate the bus station from the port to avoid crowds at Zvonimirova Street in the summer.
“It is very irresponsible to make an Ad-hoc decision without analyzing possible positive or negative consequences, especially since, for decades, there have been methods and models that serve to test specific ideas before implementation in practice, so that unpleasant surprises are avoided to the detriment of citizens and visitors to the city.
It should be emphasized that this is not only a ‘good practice’, but also an obligation for the GUP of the city of Split, which for the area of Kopilica prescribes the development of the Traffic Study and the Traffic and Technology Project, which has not been done,” professor Cvitanic concluded, and appeals to the city administration not to embark on routine decisions and implement projects without prescribed procedures, as this can lead to unimaginable consequences.
You can see the simulation below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=1R-KzYUz4WY
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