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Modernization of the transport system and social facilities
Third quarter of 2007
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Investments by the Generalitat of Catalonia have increased over the last thirty years in order to adapt and update the country’s infrastructures and social facilities and the services they provide. The objective is to reduce the current deficit, caused by several circumstances such as the sharp increase in the census basically due to immigration, as well as the redistribution and the aging of the population in the country. These factors had not been foreseen in the past.


Time for transport

This situation is prompting rapid planning and executing of the necessary work, with the collaboration of all the pertinent institutions. The transfer of the management of the Rodalies de RENFE service to the Generalitat, due to take place in January of next year, and the deployment of the Statute, which has represented a record investment of the state in infrastructures in Catalonia, are two clear examples of this.

Investment in the transport system
Railway network   M€
By the Spanish State Regional and Outskirts 2.300
By the Spanish State TGV 2.350
By the Generalitat Line 9 4.000
By the Generalitat Other projects 1.100
By the Generalitat Future projects 1.300

Investment in the transport system
Roads M€
By the Spanish State 3.600
By the Generalitat 3.800
  • Total investment: 18.450 M€
  • Total Generalitat: 10.200 M€
  • Total Spanish State: 8.250 M€

Future Railway network and highways in Catalonia
  • Transversal Arterial road (C-25): Before the end of the year, work on the conversion into a four-lane highway will commence and by 2011 there will be two lanes in each direction
  • N-240: The stretches of road Tarragona- Valls and Lleida-Almacelles are under construction.
  • C-14: Stretch of road Reus - Alcover Under construction.
  • N-340: Work has commenced on the conversion into a four-lane highway of the road in Tarragona.
  • Pirinenc arterial road: At project stage.
  • Vic-Ripoll arterial road: The conversion into a four-lane highway is under construction which will be a continuation of the Vic-Barcelona dual carriage-way.
  • Vic-Olot arterial road : Work is nearly completed. The road will connect la Garrotxa with Osona.
  • N-2: A large part of the road will be converted into a four-lane highway to la Jonquera.
  • Anella de Les Gavarres: The stretch Palamós- Palafrugell is under construction.
  • Llobregat arterial road : EThe conversion into a four-lane highway of the stretch Puig-reig-Berga will be completed this year.
  • Maçanet-Platja d'Aro arterial road : The conversion into a four-lane highway of this road which connects the coast with Baix Empordà is under construction.
  • Diagonal arterial road : The project is being drawn up. It will connect Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf), Vilafranca del Penedès (Alt Penedès), Igualada (Anoia) and Manresa (Bages).

Extension of the underground network and FGC in the city
  • FGC extension Terrassa
  • FGC extension Sabadell
  • L2 extension Pep Ventura – Badalona centro
  • L3 extension Canyelles – Trinitat Nova
  • L5 extension Horta – Vall d'Hebron
  • L9 new line
  • L3 and L6 extension Baix Llobregat
  • L2 extension Sant Antoni – Fira 2

Great improvements to the road network

Apart form the large road networks, in order to achieve a quality transport system the Government is carrying out approximately one hundred projects in order to improve, adapt and maintain the local and regional road network in Catalonia. The investment is expected to cost 3,800 million euros. The Transversal arterial road, the Diagonal arterial road and the Llobregat arterial road will act as a backbone in the centre of Catalonia once they have been converted into four-lane highways. In addition, 35 projects are planned or are under construction for conversion into four-lane highways and improvements on State roads, (N-260, N-145, N-230, N-240, N-420, N-340, N-II, B- 40), which will represent a further investment of 3,600 million euros.


Travel more easily around the country

The objective of the ambitious number of investment projects that the Government is currently carrying out is so that the inhabitants of Catalonia may travel more freely around the country. The projects include the construction of a new underground line, L9 which will connect Badalona with Prat airport, at a cost of over 4,000 million euros, and the extension of the stretch of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat to Terrassa and Sabadell in order for it to become an underground metro system.

The Spanish State is currently carrying out 21 important construction projects in Catalonia, in outskirts and regional networks as well as freight transport, with an investment of approximately 2,300 million euros. Furthermore, construction on the TGV from Tarragona to Barcelona and to France is under way. The train is due to arrive in Barcelona before the end of the year. In parallel with these events, in the near future, Catalonia will have two new railway lines, the Transversal Railway arterial road and the Línia Orbital, which will improve the balance of train services in the country and will activate mobility in the metropolitan area.


The most modern form of transport

The most modern and newest form of public transport in the area of Barcelona, the tram, has also extended its route during the last few months. After the launch of the latest extensions, Baix Llobregat and the north Barcelonès are connected in the centre of Barcelona by the Trambaix and the Trambesòs. Thanks to this infrastructure, which has been carried out at a cost of 463 million euros, the mobility problems in the most populated areas in the metropolitan area have been solved.


A qualitative leap in social facilities

The so-called social facilities, which have a near affect on inhabitants, such as those related to education, social services, culture, safety, justice and sport, have also received an increase in resources allocated to them. Not only is the number increasing and their territorial scope widening, but improvements have especially been made in the quantity and qualifications of the professionals who provide these services.

If we could provide a photo finish of the state of the activities that are being carried out in Catalonia today, we would see that in the last nine months, 1,300 measures have taken place or are taking place, with an investment of approximately 3,100 million euros.


Investments in social facilities
Areas of activity Work in progress or completed in the last nine months M€
Total 1.276 3.097,2
Justice 41 666.1
Police and fire stations 44 224.4
Health 81 1,249.4
Education 335 646.3
Social services 323 127.6
Sport 173 75.6
Culture 179 107.8

In accordance with the statute


Guaranteed the best investment from the State in Catalonia

The Generalitat has negotiated with the State the largest investment in history in infrastructures in Catalonia for the next seven years —30,815 million euros—, and it has also ensured compensation in the event that this investment is not fulfilled. The historical agreement, reached as a result of the introduction of the new Autonomous Statute, guarantees that Catalonia will be provided with the necessary infrastructures in sectors of such importance as transport, industry, energy, agriculture, commerce, tourism, research and new technologies.

The Statute, passed in summer 2006, establishes that the investment in Catalonia in infrastructures must be proportional to the economic weight it holds within the State. The agreement now reached, which widens the concept of investment in infrastructures agreed last year, finally recognises the deficit in investment received by Catalonia and all the oxygen applied for has now been injected. The agreement also guarantees that the commitment will be fulfilled as from 2007: the 827 million euros pending from last year’s budget will be made up for. In addition to this, during the next seven years any agreed amount which for any reason has not been invested will be transferred directly to the Generalitat.


Investments from the State in Catalonia according to our economic weight
2007  
Total investments from the State 21,335 M€
Economic weight of Catalonia within the State 18.85%
Total investment in Catalonia 4,022 M€

Evolution of investment from the State in Catalonia

Total 2007-2013: 30,815 M€*

*Prevision calculated from the expected annual increase of the State Budget.

  • Final agreement with the Statute: 4,022
  • Prevision without the Statute: 2,957
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