RIGA, Feb 4 (LETA) - Riga will apply for close to EUR 150 million for the development of a metrobus line, mobility points and cycling infrastructure, as the Riga City Council's Public Relations Department informed LETA.

Mobility points will be built at six train stations, the metrobus line will extend to Dreilini, Riga is also planning to purchase low-floor trams and electric buses, and build new cycling infrastructure 64 kilometers long in Riga Region, Riga Vice Mayor Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity) explained.

"These are the proposals that have been approved by a task force assessing opportunities for applying for funding under the European Recovery and Resilience Facility for reforming Greater Riga's transport system," said Kirsis. After implementation of the reform, transport opportunities will improve greatly for Riga and Greater Riga residents, and the reform will also reduce carbon dioxide pollution, he added.

In order to ensure comprehensive provision of services to residents, the Riga City Council is planning to improve Riga public transport network by developing six mobility points in Riga and two more in Riga Region for a total of approximately EUR 50 million. The mobility points are intended to improve green transport (trolleybuses, trams, zero-emission buses) connections to the railroad infrastructure.

A metrobus line will extend to Dreilini neighborhood along Dzelzavas Street, which will significantly improve public transport capacity and speed available to residents of Purvciems and Mezciems neighborhoods.

In addition, new bike lanes will be built to different Riga neighborhoods, which will cost an estimated EUR 40 million.

New cycling infrastructure will be built in Riga Region for EUR 35 million. Under the plan, new bike lanes will be built on the following routes: Riga-Ulbroka, Riga-Kekava, Riga-Babite-Pinki, Riga-Carnikava and Riga-Marupe, 64 kilometers long in total.

Finally, EUR 24 million will go to the development of Rigas Satiksme public transport company's zero-emission transport fleet by purchasing new low-floor trams and zero-emission electric buses, as well as developing charging infrastructure in Bolderaja, Dreilini and Ziemelblazma neighborhoods.