The main commercial artery of the city has been in the spotlight for years. The pedestrianization of Calle Marques de Campo is on the table, and has been the current government team, formed by PSPV y Compromís, who has taken the first step towards this important change.
Because the decision is made. This has been explained by the Councilor for Territory, Maria Josep Ripoll, during the presentation of studies on the feasibility and technical guidance of pedestrianization of the street. A study that has analyzed, on the one hand, the opinion of neighbors and merchants, and on the other, the viability of the project.
Opinion of citizens and businessmen
The study includes surveys of citizens and merchants. Of the citizens respondents, a total of 400, the 60% is in favor of pedestrianization; one 32% is against and the remaining 8% did not want to pronounce.
On the other hand, entrepreneurs respondents, 175, an 56% of respondents are in favor of returning the street to pedestrians, compared to the 44% that is against. The greatest support for pedestrianization is given by financial institutions, with an 83%; followed by the hospitality industry, with an 67%; other activities, with an 63% and shops, with an 51% in favor of pedestrianization.
In conclusion, the feasibility study shows that two thirds of respondents consider it necessary to improve street safety, and an 60% of them see pedestrianization as the solution to that improvement.
Likewise, 84% of citizens and 94% of employers consider it necessary to search for alternative car parks before the final closure of the street to road traffic.
The parking problem
Currently Marqués de Campo Street has 184 parking spaces in the blue zone. The biggest problem in which citizens and employers coincide is in the disappearance of these places. That is why the first obstacle to save for the government is the search for an alternative to the places that will disappear.
To do this, in addition to creating a new bag of dissuasive parking in the vicinity of the street, it is intended to encourage the use of bicycles, public transport and electric vehicles, as well as enhance pedestrian routes.
How will this pedestrianization be done?
The pedestrianization of Marqués de Campo street will be a reality, but not immediate. The first step has already been taken with this study, but there is still a long way to go before it becomes effective.
First of all you have to look for those alternative car parks. Once obtained, the town hall will open a participation process so that it is the citizenship that decides how they want the street to be and the uses that will be given to it. With the conclusions of this participatory process, a improvement project from the street, and finally the to make the project a reality
Since the City Council have not talked about deadlines, but have made it clear that they have a road map with a final goal, which is to return to pedestrians the main artery of the city, which currently remains closed to traffic 201 days a year.
