EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Investments, Latvia, Legislation, Transport

The project includes construction of a 3.6 kilometers long new tram line in the Skanste area and renovation of the infrastructure of some of the existing tram lines, arrangements for power supply, purchase of 12 new low-deck trams, development of a traffic management system as well as renovation of certain streets and re-arrangement of utility lines.

The total eligible cost of the project is EUR 97.4 million, of which nearly EUR 65.7 million will come from the Cohesion Fund. Another EUR 4.3 million have been set aside and will be disbursed after the end of 2018, if the project met the criteria. Rigas Satiksme will contribute EUR 27.4 million to the project.

The actual construction will begin in the second half of 2018, and it is planned to complete the project in 2020.

A number of NGOs have been protesting the Riga City Council's plans for the Skanste tram line, fearing that the construction will disturb the graves in the nearby historical cemetery Lielie Kapi and that a number of trees will have to be cut down, and also insisting that other neighborhoods in Riga needed a new tram line more than Skanste.

The Riga City Council and Rigas Satiksme claim that the cemetery will remain untouched and only the Skanste area fit the criteria for receiving the EU financing.