So far, Prague has replaced or started exchanging shelters at 24 stops
The French company JCDecaux operated hundreds of shelters in the metropolis under a 1994 contract, in exchange for their provision and maintenance, and the city’s rent can run advertising on them. The contract expired at the end of last June, before which the city management decided to purchase their own furniture.
The shelters began to be exchanged by the THMP at the end of last year, and in the winter months, according to the spokesman’s schedule, they set 25 to 30 pieces per month with regard to the weather. “The current January schedule is adhered to, only two sites have been interrupted due to a detected collision with the utility networks. After the technical resolution of the collision, we will continue the work,” said company spokesman Martin Drozd.
The company has so far completed work or started working with them, for example in Stodůlky, Horní Měcholupy, Modřany, Bílá Hora, Zemanka, Štěrboholy or Malá and Velká Chuchle. According to Drozd, work should accelerate in the spring; in March, the company plans to replace the 60th shelters, in April 61, in May 68 and in June 55. In total, the replacement should take about two years.
In the past, the city announced a design competition for the design of new stops, and then had the prototype placed on Palackého náměstí. According to an earlier statement by THMP director Tomáš Jílek, the standard stop will cost around CZK 350,000 without spare parts and other equipment and installation, including the construction of foundations, will cost up to CZK 100,000.
In the future, new elements should also appear at the stops, according to earlier information, for example, part of the advertising space will be replaced by LCD panels, which will contain information about cultural or sports events and, in the event of unexpected events, the city center’s crisis center reports. According to the city management, the number of shelters should increase beyond the current number in the future, so that the municipality wants to respond to requests from city districts.
The new stops are temporarily taken care of by the THMP, however, it is expected that they will be taken over by the transport company, which will also select the operators of advertising spaces in the competition. However, the representatives of the city and the company have not yet officially confirmed this. “The final decision on furniture management has not yet been made,” said Drozd.