A new transport terminal in Úvaly connects the train and bus stations
The railway station in Úvaly is one of the busiest stops on the line from Kolín to Prague. Therefore, during the reconstruction of this corridor in 2015–2017, the city also agreed with the Railway Administration on the repair of the Úvaly railway station.
“However, it was clear to us that what was then literally a leap of civilization for Úvaly would not be enough for the developing city and its surroundings,” admits the mayor of Úval and at the same time the regional councilor for public transport Petr Borecký (STAN).
The City Hall in the immediate vicinity of Prague gradually began to buy individual plots of land in order to get closer to the plan for the establishment of a modern transport terminal of the 21st century.
Coal will replace cars
Nothing prevents its birth at present. “After several years of efforts, which often have almost hopeless negotiations with the Railway Administration and Czech Railways, they are now approaching a reduction. We will soon become the owner of almost all land in the vicinity of the station, “confirms Mayor Borecký.
In addition, the city managed to move to the site of former coal warehouses, where the Central Bohemian Region decided to buy the necessary land and build P + R parking for 260 cars.
“So this year is the ideal time to start solving project preparation. The task was to create a terminal that will enable the expansion of bus connections in the future and which will include P + R car parks, storage spaces for cyclists or facilities for passengers, ”describes Borecký.
Representatives of the city therefore invited five renowned architectural studios to present their ideas about the future shape of the terminal in Úvaly. The jury then selected the winners of the competition, which was the design of the ov-a studio, which is, among other things, behind the architectural study of the planned VRT terminal in Nehvizdy.
“We are designing a terminal that is a kind of abstract sculpture standing next to the station and whose public space has the potential for neighborhood meetings. Nevertheless, the concept is based on the ideas of alternating full and empty spaces, where there is a place for cafes with refreshments, a playground, benches or planted tree alleys, ”describes the winning design by Štěpán Valouch, the architect of the ov-a studio.
The estimated cost of building a new terminal, which will also be financially supported by the Central Bohemian Region, is 50 million crowns.
“If all goes well, the project could have a building permit in the first half of 2023 and we would start the construction itself a year later,” Borecký believes.