The bus station Liberec presented a study of a new hall

Liberec - The study of a new bus terminal, which is set to replace the unsightly construction cells that have been serving as the bus station in Liberec for years, has recently been presented on the internet pages of www.anl.cz by the company Autobusové nádraží Liberec (ANL). The study was created by the Prague atelier Alej of architect Ivan Lejčar. According to his estimates, the construction will require costs of around 60 million crowns, said the company's director Jan Konopásek to ČTK today.
    The bus station in the hundred-thousand-strong city of Liberec has been waiting for a dignified terminal building for over ten years. The platform area was modernized in the mid-1990s, but there was no money at that time to build proper facilities. Since then, travelers have been served by a temporary building made up of construction cells, which will have to cease operation next year as their usage permit expires, thus the operator must construct a new building. "We believe that funding for its construction will be obtained in cooperation with the Liberec Region from European funds," said Konopásek.
    The design of the four-story terminal by Ivan Lejčar somewhat deviates from what has mostly been built in Liberec in recent years. The glass and concrete building resembles an arena slightly pressed to one side. Inside, there is an oval gallery with a glass roof. "We had to adapt to the limited space where it will stand, but we didn’t want to build an ordinary box, but something that will dominate the space," said the architect to ČTK today, who has designed, among other things, the information center for Česká dráha (Czech Railways) and collaborates on the integrated transport project Regiotram Nisa.
    Around 150 bus services depart from or arrive at the Liberec bus station daily, with up to 190 on Fridays. According to estimates, around 4000 passengers utilize the facility's services each day. The facilities for them are definitely not at the level that a city of a hundred thousand people deserves, a sentiment shared by representatives of both the city and the region. Passengers criticize the situation as well, especially those arriving in the regional capital for the first time.
    The company ANL, which has managed the station for about a year, is aware of the shortcomings. In recent months, it has been trying to expand the range of services at the station: it has extended the hours during which the building is open to passengers, added refreshments, and a newsstand. Since mid-April, a modern electronic system has been operational at the station, providing information to passengers about bus departures and arrivals. However, most shortcomings should be addressed by the new building, which will not only offer a waiting and resting area for passengers but also restaurants and other services. The service staff will also enjoy a dignified environment.