Jablonec nad Nisou plans competition for new transport terminal

Jablonec nad Nisou is preparing to launch a tender for the construction of a new transport terminal intended to integrate bus, rail, and eventually tram services, Mayor Miloš Vele (ODS) announced today. The city has been working on the project across four electoral terms, with preliminary costs now estimated at 450 million Czech crowns. Funding for the terminal is expected to come from a combination of a municipal investment loan exceeding half a billion crowns, European grants, and contributions from the Liberec region.

“Preparations for the terminal are close to completion, with my colleagues finalizing the tender documentation,” Vele said. “A feasibility study for the grant application is underway, and we hope to announce the tender in the second half of the year.”

Discussions are ongoing with the Liberec transport company, which is planning to extend the tram line from Tyršovy sady, its current terminus, to the new terminal site.

The terminal design was developed by the Prague-based firm DOMYJINAK architekti, which won an open urban-architectural competition in 2018. This construction project is considered the largest in the city’s modern history. The municipality hopes to secure around 100 million crowns from the European Union’s Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) program for the Liberec–Jablonec agglomeration. According to regional governor Martin Půta (Starostové pro Liberecký kraj), the region’s financial contribution will depend on the outcome of the tender process.

Rising costs have accompanied the lengthy preparation phase. Initially estimated at 160 million crowns, the project’s cost has now nearly tripled. Deputy Mayor Jakub Chuchlík (Piráti) explained that the higher figure reflects more than just the terminal itself. “It’s a revitalization of a large area, including adjustments to riverfront pathways on both sides of the river and the development of a park. The terminal is a major component, but it’s part of a broader urban renewal effort,” he said.

In the future, the terminal is expected to serve as the endpoint for the tram line from Liberec, requiring approximately 800 meters of new track along Soukenná Street and across Dolní náměstí. However, construction on this extension is unlikely to begin before 2026.

“I’m a bit pessimistic about that timeline because the design work is not progressing as quickly as I’d like. It’s not under our direct control, as the investment falls under the Liberec transport company,” Vele noted, adding that the region has pledged financial support for the tram extension project.

Source: CTK