Under the motto „What will be, Brno?“, the Czech city of Brno is developing its living space in various ways. One focus is on the Pisarky district. There, on the trade fair grounds, three infrastructures are currently being developed to improve the local traffic situation. These are independent projects with independent implementation and financing.

However, due to their proximity, they share a common phase of project preparation. Brno residents can look forward to 800 new Park & Ride parking spaces in the form of a parking garage and a new tram loop.

The cable car

However, the cherry on top will be a cable car, specifically a monocable gondola. The system will connect Lipová Street with the Bohunice campus. It is designed to transport passengers between the trade fair grounds and the campus in just five minutes, serving four stations along the way. The route will be 1,700 meters long, include a bend, and overcome a height difference of 70 meters.

The cable car will traverse the trade fair grounds, a forest, and parts of the campus. Operating daily from 6 am to 10 pm, the cable car will have
a capacity of approximately 2,000 passengers per hour.

Expected effects

The city of Brno anticipates various impacts from the three measures. The new reversible tram loop will allow trams to turn around outside Mendel Square. This is expected to make traffic around the trade fair grounds quieter and calmer. The 800-space parking garage will be located in close proximity to public transportation at the trade fair grounds. The expanded Park & Ride facility aims to make it even easier for more people to switch to public transportation, at least for parts of their journeys.

The cable car, on the other hand, will provide people with a safe, convenient, and independent means of reaching the campus. The proximity of the first station to the tram loop is intended to facilitate transfers between transportation modes. A highlight will be the view of the Arena Brno, the new multifunctional hall for culture and sports, with 13,300 seats.

Project status

Construction of the tram loop began in the summer of 2023, with completion expected in 2024. The cable car will be built once construction of the Arena Brno is finished. Construction of the hall began in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in 2026. A necessary land exchange for the cable car has already been completed.

However, Masaryk University and a local residents‘ association have raised objections to the installation, as reported by Brno Daily and Brněnský Deník. This has led to delays in the preparation of plans.

Hana Tomaštíková, spokesperson for the Brno Public Transport Company (DPMB), told Brněnský Deník, “The matter is still being resolved by the Ministry of Transport,“ and “all objections have been consolidated into one procedure, but it is still ongoing.“

Currently, the DPBM does not have a clear timeline for when the appeal could be resolved.

Financing

Officials estimate costs of 680 million Czech Crowns (CZK), approximately 27.9 million Euros, for the tram loop. The parking garage will cost 382 million CZK (15.6 million Euros). The investment cost for the cable car is estimated at 950 million CZK (39 million Euros). The city of Brno will participate in financing the projects with the Public Transport Company DPMB.

The city will also seek financial support from the European Union through the Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP) and the Integrated Transport Operational Programme (ITOP) for individual projects.