Decision made! “Yes” for tram to Tarchomin
Published 16 July 2010
Last modified 3 June 2019
Decision about environmental conditioning – that is the name of a key document which is essential to obtain before building the tram line to Tarchomin. The decision was made by the Environment Protection Department on July 8 this year. According to this document the investment planned by the investor (the capital city of Warsaw) is safe for the environment.
The designer, i.e. the MP Mosty company from Cracow will have finished the design and got a permit for investment implementation by the end of the year. The schedule is not affected – before the end of 2011 trams will go through the North Bridge to the terminus at ul. Mehoferra and in 2013 they will reach Winnica.
Finally, on May 6, 2010, Regionalny Dyrektor Ochrony Środowiska issued a decision setting the investment. In the document it was stated that “it is not possible that the undertaking may affect the areas which need special protection because of plant and animal species, their habitats or natural habitats to be found there, including the areas of the Natura 2000 networking program (…)”.
The investment impact on the ecosystem of Kanał Winnicki (canal of Winnica) was assessed. This is a migration route of small animals, that is why a special passage for them will be made. The culvert over the canal will be equipped with ledges enabling migration of amphibians and other small animals. Passage zones will be prepared in a proper way – they will be integrated into the landscape, covered with plants and designed in such a way to attract animals. Development of passage zones for animals and building works in the area of Kanał Winnicki and a water body situated nearby will be planned and realized under the supervision of environmental specialists (herpetologist, zoologist). After the investment completion the culvert will be monitored during two subsequent years to observe its use as a passage for animals and collisions with animals. The investor will have to check if the migration corridor is passable, maintain the passage and keep it clean.
There will be a greenery zone marked out around Kanał Winnicki. The area between the new route of ul. Dzierzgońskiej, ul. Światowida and the buildings to the south of the canal will be returned the nature – there are plans to remove pavements, the “old” roadway of ul. Dzierzgońskiej, benches, lamps, etc. and to plant some greenery. The area of the canal and the water body nearby will be separated with rails. The properly designed sewage system and petrochemical separators will protect the terrain and water from pollution.
The necessity of cutting down some trees and limiting the green surface area was also positively assessed. Some new trees will be planted to replace the old ones. The remaining trees near the construction site will be appropriately protected during construction works.
Within the arrangements with the Environment Protection Department, noise level was estimated. The analysis proved that “noise levels caused by the line use (tram line – ZTM note) will be lower than the ones resulting from car traffic and will not contribute to exceeding acoustic standards in the protected areas as such.” The real noise level resulting from accumulation of two sources (trams and road traffic) will be assessed after the first year of the line being in use. However, some actions will be taken to minimize the impact of noise already during construction works. Noise screens will be installed next to the elementary schools No. 154 and 342. The road surface is to guarantee a low noise level. Moreover, the greenery will be planted along the route, which constitutes a natural barrier for sounds.
The tram line itself and vehicles operating within this line will be noiseless. Concrete undercoats with resilient track fastening and rubber rail pads will be used to build this line. It will be equipped with lubricators to protect track and rims of tram wheels from back wearing out. Heads of platforms will be covered with soundproof padding. Tram wheels and rails will be ground on a regular basis. Building the line covered with grass is also being considered.
The decision of the Environment Protection Department and the environmental decision includes lots of detailed recommendations concerning both the building stage and later use of the route to Tarchomin. They specify, among other issues, the hours during which noisy works may be done (6.00 a.m.-10.00 p.m. and near schools – in the afternoon and during holidays). They determine how to avoid the overlapping noise sources (proper machine placing) and where the construction site back should be organized (possibly far away from residential areas), how to store materials, accumulate and recycle waste, how to prevent harmful substances from leaking. It was indicated when heavy building equipment can be used in the area of Wydma Tarchomińska (dune of Tarchomin) and Kanał Winnicki and which protective measures should be implemented (protection of the birds’ and animals’ breeding season and amphibians’ mass migration and reproduction season).
The environmental decision was made immediately enforceable because the investment constitutes an important public and economic interest, both on the local scale – for Białołęka as well as on the scale of the whole city. The construction of the tram line to Tarchomin together with the redevelopment of Światowida street is a crucial element of road system modernization in the right-bank Warsaw part. It is also of importance for organizing the EURO 2012 tournament – it will enhance travelling between the suburbs and the city center and improve communication within the whole city.
The environmental decision will enable finishing of the investment project. The end of design works is planned for September. Next months the designer will complete formalities connected with obtaining the legally valid building permit. The designer has time to December 20 this year to obtain this permit. This date guarantees that investment schedule will not be affected. According to the schedule, the construction of the route to the technical terminus at ul. Mehoffera will have been finished by the end of 2011 and the whole line will have been ready in 2013.
