The regions of Girona will come to have a single fare zone in public transport starting from March 2. This was announced by Sílvia Paneque, councilor, before the meeting of the Consell d"Administració d"ATM. The change will affect more than 400,000 people and will allow transfers between lines with a single travel ticket.
Unification of 11 tariff zones in Girona
The Generalitat has worked in recent months to integrate the 11 existing fare zones in the Girona regions into a single one. According to Paneque, the objective is to simplify journeys and prevent users from having to accumulate different tickets for each trip.
"The department has worked in recent months to classify 11 tariff zones and integrate them into a single one within the scope of the Girona regions" - Sílvia Paneque, councilor
The new integration will allow changing lines with a single ticket, which represents an improvement for those who use interurban transport in the area.
Extension of bonified titles and informative deployment
The change includes the extension of the subsidized tickets T-Jove, T-16 and T-10. Paneque has highlighted that the T-16 will be subsidized without different price levels for users. In addition, the Generalitat foresees an information rollout through media, web and the ticket sales network.
The information will be available in 315 points of sale distributed throughout the Girona regions. The new scenario also incorporates city councils that until now were not part of the ATM de Comarques Gironines.
"It must strengthen the governance of the system and bring its advantages closer to more municipalities" - Sílvia Paneque, councilor
Integration of urban buses and provision for the train
Regarding urban buses, Paneque has recalled that the management of the tariff policy corresponds to the city councils. Therefore, the incorporation of own passes will depend on each municipality and on the procedures they decide to promote.
The approved integration is now limited to interurban services. Regarding the future single ticket for the train, the minister has explained that work is being done with the Ministry and that railway integration could begin to be deployed in the second half of the year. However, she has not offered a closed calendar.
"It is the city councils that manage the tariff policy and that, therefore, the incorporation of their own titles will depend on each municipality and the procedures it wishes to promote" - Sílvia Paneque, councillor
Double integration and next steps
Some comarcas, like Ripollès, may have double tariff integration due to their connections with two demarcations. This scheme will become clearer as the system advances towards a broader integration throughout Catalonia.
The Generalitat estimates that the measure will facilitate travel and improve accessibility to public transport in Girona. The information rollout and collaboration with the city councils will be key in this new stage.