In Tashkent, new BRT (bus rapid transit) lines with a total length of 18.1 km are expected to be launched by 2026. These lines will run along Shahrisabz (an extension of the line on Shota Rustaveli Street), Mirzo Ulugbek and Amir Temur avenues, as well as Yangi Sergeli Street. This was announced at a presentation by the Road Traffic Organization Center (RTOC) on March 12.
According to newspaper reports, the lanes on Mirzo Ulugbek and Amir Temur avenues will be located in the central part—on the site of former tram tracks. It is anticipated that these lines will be organized not through capital construction, as with the first line on Shota Rustaveli Street, but through a simplified method, which could reduce costs and accelerate implementation.
The first BRT line, opened in October last year, is 6.5 km long. Here, for the first time in Uzbekistan, bus lanes were fully separated from car traffic lanes with concrete barriers, stop platforms were built, and separate traffic lights for buses were installed. According to RTOC data, on this section, the average speed of buses increased by 42% (from 14 to 24 km/h), while that of cars increased by 25% (from 23.6 to 29.6 km/h). The number of passengers carried grew by 22%—from 164,000 to 200,000 per day.
In addition to physically separated lanes, work continues on organizing bus lanes on the edges of streets (marked with the letter "A"). This year, it is planned to mark an additional 56 km of such lanes, supplementing the existing 81.3 km. To combat light vehicles entering the dedicated lanes, the installation of 600 cameras on buses and streets is envisaged.
In 2027, the BRT network will expand by another 17.8 km, covering Maxtumquli, Feruza, Yuzrabot, Lutfiy, and Muqimiy streets. These streets also previously had tram traffic. Subsequently, in 2028–2030, additional BRT routes spanning 20.2 km are planned to be opened on Nurafshon, Qoratosh, Ko‘kcha Darvoza, and Parkent streets.
Thus, by 2030, the total length of BRT lines is expected to reach nearly 57.5 km. The network of lanes marked with the letter "A" will expand by another 224 km, reaching 347 km. The total length of roads with priority bus movement should exceed 400 km. As previously reported by the newspaper, this year, the capital's bus fleet is planned to be replenished with 240 vehicles, and in 2027–2030, another 800 buses are to be brought in, increasing the total number to over 3,160.
Source: www.gazeta.uz