Oleksandr Kava: The Government Created Opportunities for Cities of Ukraine to Purchase New Public Transport. The First Two Cities Received New Trolleybuses.

Ukrainian cities can renew and expand their public transport fleet, develop a network of routes and carry out repair work in the depot, within the framework of the project "Urban Public Transport of Ukraine", which is implemented with credit funds from the European Investment Bank.

The first contracts have already been signed for the purchase of modern low-floor trolleybuses for Lutsk (EUR 4.3 million), Kharkiv (EUR 10 million) and Sumy (EUR4 million). Sumy will receive 19 trolleybuses, Lutsk - 29, Kharkiv - 49.    

At the end of October Lutsk and Kharkiv have already received the first new trolleybuses purchased within the project.

EIB loans are a profitable instrument for attracting funds for urban development. The funds are provided for up to 12-13 years, with repayment holidays up to 2-3 years and at a yield rate of 2-5.75% per annum.

"Quality public transport for the city is the basis for the mobility of its inhabitants, sustainable development, reducing congestion and investment attractiveness. Convenient and affordable public transport network saves time for our citizens, and this is the most valuable and non-renewable resource. It is pleasant that local authorities prefer environmentally friendly modes of transport and thus take care of the environment and comfort in their cities,"- Deputy Minister of Finance Oleksandr Kava stressed.

Other cities of Ukraine, in particular, Ivano-Frankivsk, Bila Tserkva, Kyiv, Lviv, Kremenchuk, Odesa, Ternopil, Chernihiv also take part in the project "Urban Public Transport of Ukraine". The EIB has allocated a credit line of EUR 200 million for the project. These funds will be used to purchase new trolleybuses, trams, subway cars, buses, as well as for construction and reconstruction of trolleybuses and tram lines, depots.

The Ministry of Finance jointly with the Ministry of Infrastructure is working on the launch of the project “Urban Public Transport of Ukraine ІІ” totaling EUR 400 million. This will allow Ukrainian cities to improve the transport system and attract credit funds for solving public transport problems.