Public transport development to bring private operators to Warsaw bus routes

The authorities in Warsaw are currently putting the finishing touches to tenders designed to develop the city's public transport system this year. The tenders will include orders for new trams and the introduction of private operators on some bus routes. The tram tender was cancelled last year due to a lack of funding to meet the high prices sought by the manufacturers, while not enough money was available even to conduct the bus route tender. According to Warsaw's deputy mayor Wojciech Kozak, there is a chance the city will be able to find sufficient funds for the projects this year. "It is important to spread the financial burden of the orders over 2003 and 2004," Kozak told Puls Biznesu. Apart from adding more trams with easy access doors, the city also intends to allow over 100 privately-operated buses to run on regular routes. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9) M.T.K.