The bus station in Liberec will not have a new hall

Liberec - The bus station in the hundred-thousand city of Liberec will not soon see an adequate departure hall. The construction failed to secure funding from the regional operational program, and the company Autobusové nádraží Liberec (ANL) is unable to realize the project, estimated at around 70 million crowns, without it. This was reported today by the company’s director, Jan Konopásek. Passengers must continue to make do with the temporary facilities that have been provided for them for several years by unappealing construction units.
The Liberec bus station has been waiting for a dignified departure building for over 20 years. The platform area was modernized in the mid-1990s, but at that time, there was no money left for the construction of a proper facility. Since then, passengers have been served by a temporary structure made from construction units. Already in 2007, the company presented an online proposal for a new building by architect Ivan Lejčar. However, funding could not be secured for the construction of an interesting four-story building that resembles an arena squeezed to one side. "We will try to find resources for some smaller and simpler variant," said Konopásek.
About 150 bus connections depart from or arrive at the Liberec bus station daily, rising to 190 on Fridays. According to estimates, around 4,000 passengers use the facilities every day. The amenities provided for them are definitely not at the level that a city of a hundred thousand deserves, as representatives of both the city and the region agree. It is often criticized by the passengers themselves, especially those who are surprised, particularly first-time visitors to the regional capital. The ANL company, which has managed the station for about four years, is aware of the shortcomings and has already attempted to address many of them: it has extended the hours during which the temporary building is open to passengers, added refreshments, a newspaper stand, and an electronic information system.
Improved amenities, a place to relax, a restaurant, and other services were meant to be offered to passengers by the new building. A dignified environment was also to be provided for the service staff. The unusual project even gained public support, with 63 percent of participants rating it positively in an online vote, while only 18 percent rejected it. "Four floors are a condition of construction regulation in this area, and we did not want to build a plain box; however, it seems we may have to if we do not want construction units to substitute for the station building for another 20 years," noted Konopásek. The building will likely end up being smaller and therefore cheaper, which they plan to finance through a loan.
Unlike other places in the Czech Republic, where similar projects are managed by cities, this is a private project in Liberec. ANL wanted to obtain funding from the Regional Operational Program NUTS II North-East, where nearly 656.5 million euros (16.5 billion crowns) is available from 2007 to 2013. About 34 percent of the funds, which is about 5.6 billion crowns, is designated for the development of urban and rural areas for the regeneration and revitalization of brownfields, the reconstruction of parts of cities, and infrastructure. Thanks to funding from the program, the nearby town of Turnov will, for example, receive a new bus station. The fifteen-thousand-strong town secured nearly 90 million crowns for its construction.