Settlers want safer transportation through the center of Gargžda

Gargžda is expanding – new residential blocks are moving further and further away from the city center. We are proud that the population and young families are increasing. However, the opportunities for the development of communication exceed the expectations of the settlers. The representative of the residential quarter of the western part of Gargždai appealed to the editorial office of “Banga” regarding the unsafe connection with the city center on Klaipėda street.
The roadside is dangerous, the crossing is far away
The editorial office of “Banga” received a letter from the residents of Gargžd, in which it is stated that in their residential quarter, located in the western part of the city near Klaipėda street, pedestrian access to the center of Gargžd is unsafe. According to them, now the residents of this quarter have to walk along the narrow side of Klaipėda Street to the nearest pedestrian crossings for about half a kilometer in order to cross to the pedestrian path on the other side of Klaipėda Street. Traffic is intense on Klaipėda Street, the country road. Not only the residents of this but also the neighboring quarter use it (mostly young families live here), many children go to school, in the dark in winter. The school bus does not stop because there is nowhere to safely stop and pick up the students. Therefore, residents are asking for a pedestrian crossing to be installed at Geležinkelios pilom street, and to connect M. Vaitkaus and Geležinkelios pilom streets with a pedestrian path. It would be even better to extend the footpath to the “Norfa” store, where there is a pedestrian crossing. Then the crossing at the Railway embankment street would no longer need to be prepared.
Several options were considered
After introducing this letter to the administration of the Klaipėda district municipality, we received a response from Rita Rapalienė, the adviser of the Public Relations and Cooperation Department, who performs the functions of the head of the department. She emphasized that Klaipėdos street in Gargždaoi is under the control of AB “Via Lietuva” (former Directorate of Motor Roads of Lithuania). In the answer, it is written that more than one option has been considered, how to improve communication with other streets for these residents. For example, theoretically, it would be possible to connect M. Vaitkaus and Geležinkelis pilom streets with a pedestrian path, but there is no way to the “Norfa” store, because a private plot intervenes there. Another alternative that is being considered is the connection from Smeltalė st. until now, the streets are being built according to the multifunctional center project. “We would like to draw attention to the fact that Pušų St., where there are pedestrian and bicycle paths, can be safely and comfortably reached from the mentioned block,” said R. Rapalienė.
Not on priority list
AB “Via Lietuva” Communications Manager Saulius Jansonas assured “Banga” that a single pedestrian crossing cannot be installed in this place, because the road environment does not meet the conditions for its installation in accordance with the requirements of the “Rules for the Organization of Pedestrian Crossing Across Roads and Streets” – there are no extensions of the pedestrian infrastructure on both sides road Thus, the issue of installing a pedestrian crossing can be considered only in the case of the development of paths on both sides of the road.
“The development of pedestrian infrastructure near roads of state importance is planned according to the “priority list for the development of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure near roads of state importance” approved by the Minister of Transport (hereinafter – the priority list). It is published publicly on the website compiled by “Via Lietuva” in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and the Association of Lithuanian Municipalities. Based on the aggregated information on the need for trails and in cooperation with municipalities, the highest priority trails that need to be built first were identified. The stretch of road mentioned in your letter did not make it to the priority list, so the development of infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists is not planned here in the near future. In view of this, we recommend that you contact the District Municipality regarding the development of the pedestrian transport infrastructure from the Railway Embankment and Smeltalė Streets, which, implementing the functions of public administration and providing public services to the residents, will analyze the situation, assess the needs and travel habits of the residents of the Municipality, find rational solutions and financial resources for solving issues of pedestrian organization in the city of Gargžda, for example, would expand the infrastructure of pedestrian communication in the network of local city streets”, the answer reads.
Virginia LAPIENĖ
Author’s photo.