Vinohradská will be more pleasant and safer

One of the most significant streets in Prague is set for revitalization. The Institute of Planning and Development of the City of Prague (IPR) presented a conceptual study proposal, which will serve as a basis for the planned reconstruction of Vinohradská Street.

People who use Vinohradská Street have been involved in the planning from the very beginning. Together with them, architects from IPR have come up with a range of recommendations to enhance public spaces. Vinohradská is primarily set to improve transport solutions, barrier-free tram stops, and overall safer and more pleasant conditions for pedestrians. The wide sidewalks will be enhanced with additional trees, and more restaurant patios are expected to emerge, adding a touch of metropolitan boulevard flair to the street. New benches, bins, drinking fountains, and bike racks will also be included.

"The preparation for the reconstruction of Vinohradská Street has been discussed with the public from the start, which is a novelty in Prague. We have completed the first round, based on which the Institute of Planning has developed a study proposal. We will now exhibit it for fourteen days directly on the street, and at the end, I will come with representatives of the leadership of Prague 2 and 3 to discuss with locals which comments to incorporate and how. The most challenging part so far has been reconciling various transport demands: locals want parking, wider sidewalks, solutions for cyclists, and at the same time more trees and crossings, especially at Jiřího z Poděbrad Square and Flora. The placement of tram stops was also addressed, resulting in some relocations,” said Matěj Stropnický, Deputy Mayor of Prague.

Conceptual Approach

"Revitalization of Vinohradská Street is part of the overall Concept for the Development of Public Spaces in Prague, prepared by the Office of Public Space IPR,” states Pavla Melková, Director of the City Detail Section of IPR Prague. According to her, this represents a fundamental change in the approach to street reconstructions, which were previously carried out without an overall concept and without public involvement. "At the same time, the proposal is being developed based on the Manual for Creating Public Spaces with the aim of improving the residential qualities of the area," adds Melková. Based on the conceptual study of Vinohradská Street, which IPR is currently discussing with citizens, specific project documentation will be created. Implementation is expected to follow in 2017-2018.

Smoother Ride for Trams, Bicycles, and Cars

Public involvement has shown that the primary improvements needed are safety and accessibility throughout the street. When you alight, for example, at the Jiřího z Poděbrad stop heading from the city center, at first glance, you can see something is wrong. The intersection is surrounded by red-and-white barriers with no crossing in sight. On the other hand, you can only access the other side via an underpass (which is not barrier-free) or you have to dash across the street outside of a crosswalk. The conceptual study therefore proposes to add missing crossings, remove barriers, and better connect the square with Svatopluk Čech Gardens.

In the lower part of the street, architects propose a dedicated driving lane for cars separated from the tram track. This should eliminate the common situation where trams are blocked by queues of cars. Vinohradská will also be more cyclist-friendly, with either a bike lane or a pictogram corridor available for a larger part of the street. A protected route for recreational cyclists is also planned along the Olšany Cemeteries.

Today also marks the start of an exhibition aimed at presenting the details of the conceptual study proposal. Panels featuring the planned changes will be placed in key locations along Vinohradská Street for citizens to review.

> www.iprpraha.cz/vinohradska