MEETING MINUTES OF KR.GORA MUNICIPALITY
Kregarija can be postponed until September, then...
On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, a working meeting took place in the Alpine Museum on calming traffic in Vrata valley and over Vršič pass. Attendees included representatives from Ministry of Infrastructure, Road and Traffic Directorate, Roads Directorate, Development Investments Company, and Kranjska Gora Municipality.
At the meeting, technical and other obstacles were presented due to which the planned traffic calming regime has not yet been fully implemented. Despite these challenges, we believe that significant progress has been made, as traffic regulation in Vrata and over the pass has been ongoing for over 20 years. First big step last year, this year continuing with additional measures.
Vrata Valley
For Vrata, a turning circle and barrier construction was planned, but the procedure was delayed due to objective circumstances. The system as originally planned will come to life in September, after the tourist season, to avoid causing a traffic collapse with an untested system.
We are entering this season with the same summer regime as last year. The municipality will organize line transport to Vrata from June 15 to September 15. The carrier has been selected. In June, there will be 5 transports per day to and from Vrata, during the main season from July 1 onwards this regime will be significantly increased (8 transports per day from Monday to Thursday and 12 per day from Friday to Sunday). The first bus will take passengers to Vrata at 4 a.m., the last one will bring them back in the evening hours. All schedules will be published on websites and also forwarded to the Alpine Association and societies so that visitors are informed in time.
The signing of the Easement Contract is currently underway, with which the Ministry will grant the Municipality rights for legal management of land in Vrata valley. This means the Municipality can collect parking fees in Vrata valley and organize traffic control service that will direct traffic and ensure parking spaces are properly occupied.
Parking fee in Vrata valley will be significantly more expensive this year than in Mojstrana. We believe this will also deter visitors from entering the Valley with their own vehicle and they will prefer the free bus transport. This season, parking will be charged with a parking meter at the parking lot in Vrata. When the originally planned system with barriers is established in September, the parking payment will be tied to the time of entry or exit through the barrier.
Although the state did not manage time-wise to introduce the new regime with turning circle and functioning barrier already this summer season, we believe that we will be equally successful in calming traffic in Vrata valley with this year's plan.
The turning circle before the barrier will be built by July 15, 2024, barriers will remain raised until September. In accordance with the project, the installation of as many as 4 information boards is also planned, which will inform drivers about available parking spaces (one on the state road before Topolin, second before the former Lip factory, third before Mercator store Mojstrana, and fourth before the barrier). The information boards will be connected to the Information Center, meaning users can be informed about the situation in Vrata valley already before leaving home and plan their trip in time.
We want to thoroughly test the planned system first, eliminate any shortcomings, and optimize it by the next main tourist season.