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Substantial sums for Warsaw

Warsaw hopes to obtain substantial funding from the European Union in the upcoming years, to the tune of PLN 3 billion. Combined with its own resources for joint financing of investments, the outlay for these investments in Warsaw should exceed PLN 5 billion. The citizens of Warsaw will decide themselves what will be funded and at what levels, through a referendum, Warsaw Mayor Lech Kaczyński has announced.

The city’s Office for Development Strategy and European Integration (BSRiIE) has held a conference on the planned investments co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Opening the conference, the Warsaw mayor stated that he would like to see the EU funds which he hopes the city will obtain in the next few years used to beautify the city, among other ways by revitalizing its landmarks. “Budapest is also seeking funding for renovations, particularly for housing developments,” said Mayor Kaczyński. “Warsaw should focus on returning its historic districts to their former glory. We expect that the EU will be flexible in evaluating our applications.”

Should the largest strategic investment by Warsaw, together with the EU through 2013, be adding a second line to the metro, or rather revitalization of the city’s streets and related infrastructure? Warsaw residents will decide in a referendum. Mayor Kaczyński emphasized that Madrid was able to add 50 km of metro lines in the course of four years, thanks to EU funding.

“Warsaw is near the front of the pack when it comes to filing applications and obtaining EU funding,” said the mayor. For the process to work even more efficiently, it may be necessary to rework the city’s budget. “EU funds have a way of ‘forcing’ local government expenditures. We want safety, education, culture, health care and social assistance to remain of paramount importance in Warsaw. At the same time, we must structure investments so that we have the means available to supplement the EU funding,” the mayor emphasized.

The most important of the Warsaw projects planned to be co-financed with EU structural and social funds include:

The Integrated Public Transit System, which is intended to increase the use of public transit as a percentage of overall commuting in the city, to improve transit efficiency, the attractiveness of the city as a place to live and work and as a tourist destination, and to help attract investors. It includes expansion of the tramway lines between Bemowo and Młociny (project cost PLN 46.1 million, of which ERDF would co-finance PLN 18.6 million); extension of the first metro line to the Młociny station together with construction of the Młociny depot and supply lines (total project cost PLN 827.7 million, with ERDF co-financing of PLN 339.2 million); construction of an underground walkway between the Dworzec Gdański metro station and the Warszawa Gdańska railway station and the Żoliborz district (total PLN 77.5, with PLN 31.7 million to be co-financed); modernization of the tramway routes on Aleje Jerozolimskie between the Banacha terminus and the Gocławek terminus (total of PLN 237.7 million, PLN 97.4 million to be co-financed); and construction of strategic “Park & Ride” parking lots (total project cost PLN 31.4 million, estimated co-financing PLN 12.9 million). The project will also include the Integrated Traffic Management System (cost PLN 80 million, with estimated co-financing of PLN 40 million).
Modernization of Aleje Jerozolimskie (the section from Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich to the viaduct over the PKP railroad tracks – total cost PLN 61.6 million, with ERDF co-financing of PLN 46.1 million).
Modernization of Rondo Starzyńskiego (total cost PLN 100.8 million, co-financing PLN 75.4 million).
Restoration and modernization of Park Żeromskiego (project total PLN 9.5 million, co-financing PLN 7.1 million).
Modernization of the surface of Krakowskie Przedmieście (estimated project cost PLN 28.5 million, including co-financing of PLN 21.4 million).
Start-up of the Trakt Królewski internet information and promotion system (project estimate PLN 6.1 million, estimated co-financing PLN 4.5 million).
Construction of Trasa Siekierkowska expressway (sections from the Bora Komorowskiego terminus to ul. Płowiecka and from the Marsa terminus to the Ostrobramska terminus, with total estimated co-financing of PLN 242.2 million).
Restoration and modernization of Park Skaryszewski (project estimate PLN 36.6 million, including co-financing of PLN 27.5 million).
Modernization of the section of Aleje Jerozolimskie from the viaduct over the PKP railroad tracks to ul. Łopuszańska (project estimate PLN 82.8 million, with co-financing estimated at PLN 57.8 million).

Youth Perspectives, a set of activities financed from the European Social Fund to prevent and overcome unemployment and promote development of human resources, social integration of the labor market, and equality of professional opportunity between men and women. It will promote an active social policy. Warsaw has filed applications for co-financing of projects, of which eight have already been accepted for implementation in an overall value of PLN 6 million (PLN 4.8 million of which is to be co-financed). In addition, seven more projects worth PLN 7.5 million await final evaluation, with estimated co-financing for these projects being PLN 6 million. Six applications totaling PLN 1.4 million, of which PLN 1.1 would be co-financed, are already prepared for filing. The social projects include such items as scholarship programs, the “Effect” project for unemployed residents of the Żoliborz district, the project “Wanted at Last: Young, Active and Skilled” for residents of the Wawer district.

2005-01-05, Beata Kubiszyn-Puka