The acquisition of funding from the Recovery Fund (RF) for the greening of the transport system and the expansion of the communication network continues the initiated work on establishing a unified bicycle route network in Riga and the surrounding area, the improvements made to the capital's public transport system, as well as the launched broadband infrastructure development projects.
In order to implement the greening reform of the transport system, the implementation of the Sustainable Integrated Public Transport Plan 2024-2030 for the Riga Metropolitan Area prepared by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and approved by the Government, has started. In parallel, improvements to the Riga public transport system greening are being implemented with RF funding. The project includes the purchase of 17 new electric buses and installation of 7 fast charging points in Riga. The total planned cost of the project is €16.7 million, of which €14.3 million will be co-financed by the EU. The reform will also include the extension of tram line 7 in Riga.
In 2025, a pilot project - "A single ticket for JSC "Pasažieru vilciens" and RP SIA "Rīgas satiksme" will be implemented as part of the reform to provide citizens with a more convenient opportunity to use public transport by using a single ticket on Riga state city bus, trolleybus and tram routes, as well as on regional trains in the territory of Zone A.
The RF funding of €72.7 million is also earmarked for the modernisation and development of the electrified railway network to improve the public railway infrastructure on the lines Riga - Zemitāni and Riga - Sloka, as well as the development of the line Zasulauks - Bolderāja, thus contributing to changing the commuting habits of citizens and reducing the negative impact of public transport on the environment. The project includes the reconstruction of the contact line and the upgrading of signalling subsystems. In addition to the modernisation of the electrified lines, RF funding of EUR 114.6 million is planned for the completion of the southern part of Riga Central Railway Station.
EUR 31.2 million from the RF is earmarked for multimodal mobility by creating "Stacija 2.0" or public transport connection points at eight locations in Riga and Pieriga - Bolderaja, Skirotava, Zemitani, Sarkandaugava, Dauderi, Ziemelblazma, Carnikava and Saulkrasti, thus providing public transport connections to rail. The public transport connection points in the capital city will be implemented by the Riga City Municipality, which has developed the construction project with a view to starting construction in 2025. In Pieriga, the public transport connection points or "Stacija 2.0" are being implemented by the municipalities of Adazi and Saulkrasti, where design work has already been carried out with a view to completing construction by the end of 2025.
To ensure environmentally friendly, active mobility and neighbourhood connectivity between settlements in Riga and Pieriga, five municipalities have already launched micro-mobility infrastructure development projects. They will lead to the creation of a 52 km cycle route, which will ensure connectivity between Riga, Ropazi, Kekava, Marupe and Adazi municipalities. The projects have to be implemented by 31 May 2026.
To facilitate the transition to very high performance electronic communications networks, which will provide citizens with access to fast internet throughout the country, the MoT is implementing the Broadband Infrastructure Development Reform in the electronic communications sector with €16.5 million of AF funding.
As part of the reform, by 30 June 2025, 500 households, businesses, educational and medical institutions and other public buildings will have access to very high performance broadband with download speeds of at least 300 Mbit per second. By 30 June 2026, this service will be available to a further 6,200 households, businesses and public buildings.
The RF funding of €92.3 million is earmarked for the implementation of road reconstruction and rehabilitation measures, which are carried out within the framework of the Administrative Territorial Reform under the supervision of the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM). In order to ensure the mobility of the population, safe access to administrative centres, services and workplaces, the VARAM, MoT and VSIA "Latvijas Valsts ceļi" are working together to renovate and rehabilitate both regional and local roads.
