Yerevan’s Traffic Woes: A Call for Urgent Action
Yerevan, April 4 – Prominent journalist Arshaluys Mghdesyan has publicly criticized the Yerevan Municipality for its handling of urban development and traffic management, asserting that the city has become increasingly uncomfortable for its residents. In a Facebook post on Friday, April 3, Mghdesyan highlighted the escalating issues of traffic jams and road deterioration, urging authorities to implement transformative solutions rather than merely maintaining the status quo.
The Growing Problem: Congestion and Deterioration
Mghdesyan’s post, which quickly gained traction online, describes a daily reality for Yerevan residents where mornings are met with frustrating traffic jams that are “growing exponentially,” alongside an increasing number of potholes. This critical assessment comes amidst ongoing discussions and delays regarding infrastructure projects, such as the Ajapnyak metro station, which Mghdesyan notes has been stalled for 35 years despite persistent rhetoric.
“While the municipality discusses and delays the implementation of the Ajapnyak metro station project (the ‘builder’ Armenian nation could not build a metro station in 35 years, but talk about it as much as you want), Yerevan is rapidly becoming… or rather, has already become a city uncomfortable for life,” Mghdesyan stated in his post.
Critique of Current Policies: “Current Maintenance”
The journalist lambasted the city administration for adopting a “current maintenance” policy instead of making bold decisions that would significantly improve the quality of life for its citizens. He specifically referenced the recurring promises to acquire 45 trolleybuses, suggesting that the authorities are behaving as if Yerevan were a developed European city with no serious transport issues, requiring only routine upkeep.
“Instead of making sharp and life-changing decisions, the city authorities are simply pursuing a policy of current maintenance. For months, they have been talking and promising to acquire 45 trolleybuses, behaving as if they were the authorities of a developed European city where serious transport problems have long ceased to exist, and only current maintenance remains to be done,” Mghdesyan wrote.
Proposed Solutions: A Radical Overhaul
Mghdesyan put forth several concrete proposals aimed at alleviating Yerevan’s urban challenges:
- Remove Parking from Central Avenues: A key suggestion is to eliminate parking spaces from the city’s central avenues to free up road capacity.
- Expand Bus Routes: He called for an increase in the number of bus routes, ensuring they do not terminate after just a couple of streets.
- Increase Public Transport: A general increase in the availability and frequency of public transport services is advocated to reduce reliance on private vehicles.
- Enforce Ticket Purchases: Mghdesyan also proposed regular patrols by uniformed inspectors on buses to ensure all passengers purchase tickets, suggesting fines for non-compliance, regardless of its popularity.
The journalist supported the recent increase in parking fees in the city center, viewing it as a correct decision, but emphasized that such measures are effective only when integrated into a comprehensive system, not in isolation.
Lessons from Other Cities: Implementation is Key
Mghdesyan concluded his post by noting that Yerevan’s problems are not unique, and many other cities have successfully implemented similar solutions to enhance the comfort of their residents. The critical difference, he highlighted, is that these cities made and *implemented* such complex decisions.
“Yerevan’s problems are not unique; many cities have adopted similar solutions to make people’s lives more comfortable. It’s just that in those cities, such complex decisions were made and IMPLEMENTED,” Mghdesyan concluded, expressing that these thoughts had been brewing within him for some time.
Source: Arshaluys Mghdesyan’s Facebook page
