Rath wants Bendl to accelerate the construction of the rapid transit line Prague-Kladno

Prague - Central Bohemia Governor David Rath (ČSSD) wants to put pressure on his predecessor in office and the new Minister of Transport Petr Bendl (ODS) to strive for the fastest possible construction of the rapid railway Prague-Kladno. Among the other transport priorities of the region are the construction of the northern part of the Prague bypass, repairs and extensions of the Karlovy Vary road R6, work on the D3 highway towards České Budějovice, and on the Příbram road R4, Rath told journalists today. Bendl's office spokesperson Martin Kupka responded to Rath's call by stating that accelerating the construction of the rapid railway is also a priority for the minister.
    "I want to call on Minister Bendl to cooperate with us so we can together initiate and realize these projects as soon as possible, as they are very key issues," said Rath. Bendl, as governor, supported the rapid railway project with a branch to Václav Havel Airport. Kupka assured today that the ministry wants to expedite the project as much as possible. The current railway connection between Prague and Kladno is generally considered inadequate. Over 20,000 people commute daily from Kladno and surrounding areas to Prague for work, while the railway connection is mostly provided by passenger trains, which take nearly an hour to travel the thirty-kilometer route. According to earlier information, the first passengers could travel on the rapid railway by the end of 2013. However, according to Kupka, no one is currently able to guarantee the construction completion date definitively.
   "This issue has been discussed for a long time, and we consider it our priority. We see it as crucial for Kladno, the airport, and the adjacent parts of Central Bohemia," stated Rath.
    According to the governor, it is also important that the northwestern part of the metropolitan bypass is established as soon as possible. The former leadership of the region, led by Bendl, supported the bypass's route through Suchdol, as did the Prague City Hall. However, the affected municipalities of Suchdol, Lysolaje, and Dolní Chabry want the circuit to run further north through Řež. Rath believes that the so-called southern variant, running through Prague's territory, has been "stuck" for a long time due to the activities of the municipalities. The governor does not dispute the fact that the connection between Suchdol and Bohnice is missing, but according to him, that is the responsibility of the Prague City Hall. This route, however, would not solve transit traffic, he believes.
    The northern bypass, according to the governor, should meet similar criteria as the southern one, which is currently under construction, and should lead outside Prague. "We offer the territory of Central Bohemia for this, and we do not care which one will be preferred, whether near Řež or Vodochody," Rath stated. Bendl, however, previously warned against leading the bypass along the so-called northern route. According to him, the approval of the land use plan would take eight to ten years. Thus, construction could take up to 15 or 20 years to be completed, Bendl had warned earlier.
    Kupka stated that this Bendl's position still holds. "The urban plan of the capital city of Prague and the urban plan of the Prague region enshrines the form of the southern variant, while the northern variant encountered outright rejection from Central Bohemian municipalities," he noted.