Lasha Farulava: The Tbilisi Transport Company has been turned into a structure staffed with party cadres - the city needs a transport policy determined by professional knowledge and a long-term vision, not experiments

Instead of professionals, the Tbilisi Transport Company has been turned into a structure staffed with party cadres and informal influences. The situation is no less severe in the municipal department that defines transport policy, whose heads have changed several times over these nine years, — writes Lasha Farulava, one of the leaders of the "National Movement," on social media, responding to the initiative presented by Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, in which Kaladze spoke about introducing an odd-even license plate system or charging fees for entering specific districts in order to solve the problem of traffic jams in the capital.

Lasha Farulava writes that during Kakha Kaladze's 9-year tenure as mayor, the city's transport problems not only failed to be resolved, but became more acute and large-scale on a daily basis, which, according to him, is "the result of incompetent management, corruption, nepotism, and the neglect of professionalism."

"The unstable and chaotic management of the agency directly affects the capital's traffic movement. As a result, we have a system as disordered as the activity of this agency itself.

A vivid example of the failure of transport policy is Chavchavadze Avenue. After going up to Chavchavadze Avenue from Vake-Saburtalo (Varaziskhevi), getting to the left side is practically impossible; the driver has to travel all the way to the Tskneti Highway in order to turn around and find themselves on the other side of the road. At the same time, due to the improper organization of traffic flows, the roundabout junction has become a source of constant delay. This is the result of the complete disregard of planning and preliminary calculation. When planning transport infrastructure, the elementary professional standard should be the modeling of flows and making decisions that ensure the prevention of traffic jams rather than their systemic creation.

We see similar problems on Ketevan Tsamebeli Avenue, Tsereteli Avenue, and other important transport arteries of the capital, where rehabilitation works were carried out and bus lanes were arranged," writes Lasha Farulava.

According to Farulava's explanation, the presence of bus lanes in the city is not a problem, and giving priority to public transport is necessary, but this must be based on well-considered, professionally planned decisions coordinated with the city's general transport system. He explains that infrastructure rehabilitation carried out without preliminary analysis and consideration of traffic flows cannot solve the problem.

"A separate topic of discussion is the state of municipal transport and unfulfilled promises. Nine years later, instead of the construction of new metro stations in Lilo and Didi Dighomi, citizens are left only with banners displaying promises.

Against the backdrop of all this, Kaladze's talk about introducing the so-called Japanese model is particularly ironic. It turns out that the government is offering citizens restrictions on the use of cars while having done nothing itself to improve the roads entering and leaving the capital, expand infrastructure, and create alternative transport routes. First, you must offer the citizen a real alternative for travel, and only then demand that they restrict their personal car use. Otherwise, this is not a reform, but shifting one's own inaction onto the citizens," writes Lasha Farulava.

According to Farulava, the city needs a transport policy determined by professional knowledge, data, and a long-term vision, rather than PR campaigns and experiments. He explains that it is necessary to develop infrastructure, correctly plan traffic junctions, "increase the efficiency of municipal transport, and free the management system from party interests."

"All of this is possible. For this, it is not necessary to reinvent the city's transport system; what is needed is the involvement of competent people, proper planning, and responsible management.

Together with professionals, we can implement these changes consistently, efficiently, and with minimal discomfort for citizens.

Tbilisi's development is hindered by corrupt and incompetent governance. By changing this governance, we will be able to return orderly streets, a functioning transport system, and freedom of movement to the capital.

And for this, our unity and organization are required.

Changes begin with our joint action," writes Lasha Farulava.