From July 15 at 21.45, when Tērbatas Street will be closed to traffic, the status of a residential area will be determined for it, Rudīte Reveliņa, Head of the Traffic Organization and Project Management Department of the Riga City Council Traffic Department, told a media event on Tuesday.
The status of a residential area means that vehicles that will be allowed to travel on the street must do so at a speed not exceeding 20 kilometers per hour. Operational and goods delivery transport, as well as residents living on Tērbatas Street will be able to move along the street. At the same time, the municipality invites deliveries of goods and other goods on the relevant day by 10 am.
Transport access to each block of the street will be provided only on one side, Reveliņa emphasized, inviting to get acquainted with the traffic change scheme on the municipal website.
Also, vehicles will still be allowed to cross street intersections. The representative of the Traffic Department emphasized that no one has repealed the traffic rules on the pedestrian street, therefore pedestrians are allowed to cross the intersections only at the green traffic light signal.
Public transport on Tērbatas Street will be closed for a month, and passengers are invited to use the transport that runs along Brīvības, Krišjāņa Barona, Avotu, Satekles, Valmieras and Ernesta Birznieka-Upīša streets. On the other hand, those drivers who have subscriptions for the use of municipal parking lots along Tērbatas Street will be able to park their vehicles in the parking lots on the perpendicular street.
It has already been reported that almost the entire Tērbatas Street in Riga will be closed to vehicular traffic from July 15 to August 16, allocating it to pedestrians and traders, as well as cultural events.
The municipality explained that green recreation areas and cafe terraces will be set up along Tērbatas Street, in some places there will be an opportunity to enjoy country delicacies from Latvian home producers, and on weekends – to experience a cultural program for children and adults. In addition, free Wi-Fi will be provided throughout the street.
Traffic on Tērbatas Street will be closed on July 15 at 21.45 in the section from Elizabetes Street to Matīsa Street, as well as from Matīsa Street to the entrance to Vidzeme Market. An exception will be made for operational and delivery transport, as well as access for citizens to courtyards. Vehicles will still be allowed to cross at street intersections.
Drivers who have purchased a monthly subscription to a municipal paid parking lot or a resident’s card will be able to park their car free of charge in the municipal paid parking lots on the adjacent street.
The street will be closed to trade and pedestrians from July 17.
The city municipality invites the existing entrepreneurs and other traders of Tērbatas Street to participate in the activation of the street in order to jointly reduce the post-crisis economic and social consequences and create a safe and open environment for the city residents and guests. It is planned to create new street outlets both on the street itself and in the Vidzeme market.
SIA “Rīgas satiksme” is instructed to close the 1st trolleybus route, but to provide the 316th express bus route in the direction of Baznīcas Street along the route to Merķeļa Street and further along Brīvības Boulevard, Brīvības Street, Dzirnavu Street and further along the main route.
The Department of Education, Culture and Sports in cooperation with the Riga Tourism Development Bureau has been instructed to prepare a cultural program.
Meanwhile, the Department of Housing and the Environment has been instructed to locate additional waste bins, sanitary containers, hand disinfection points and other safety features related to the spread of Covid-19.
Other municipal institutions and departments will also have to perform various works to ensure the closure of the street, the materials necessary for traders, the safe course of events, and cleanliness.
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