Latest news with #Ruter
Local Norway
07-08-2025
- Local Norway
What is going on with Oslo's Metro?
Why is there metro chaos in Oslo? Several subway stations are temporarily closed as part of a major upgrade aimed at improving speed and frequency on the Oslo subway. Ruter, the public transport authority in the capital region, has called the maintenance works "The Great Metro Upgrade", and the project is living up to the name. It's the largest upgrade in 60 years and includes four major projects. These include a brand-new metro line, the Fornebu line, with six stations connecting Fornebu in Bærum to Majorstuen, passing by areas including Skøyen and Lysaker, scheduled for completion in 2029. The Majorstuen station is meanwhile being upgraded with new entrances, a pedestrian and bike bridge, and larger platforms. There will also be a new digital signaling system to allow for closer intervals between trains and better overall flow, and the addition of 20 new 3-car trains to boost capacity. How is this affecting commuters? The disruptions are impacting around 70,000 daily travelers. Ruter recommends using alternative transport such as trams and buses, although this usually means transfers and longer commutes. For instance, a commuter living in Majorstuen and working downtown now faces a 26-minute tram ride , instead of a 10-minute metro trip, while a student working at Majorstuen and studying at BI Business School in Nydalen is now likely to spend at least 40 minutes commuting, up from 17 minutes. Advertisement What is the biggest headache? The full closure of Majorstuen station, a central hub just west of the city centre, is causing the most disruption. Majorstuen is a key transit point close to shopping, offices, cafés, and the Vigeland Park tourist attraction. Majorstuen and Nationaltheatret stations are fully closed u ntil August 10th while Metro trains will pass through Majorstuen without stopping from August 11th to September 19th. How long will it last? The main disruptions will continue until December 1st. Although Majorstuen station will be partially reopened by September 19th, Stortinget station will be closed from November 4th to December 1st. Smaller service changes may occur with other stations and lines between August 10th and December 1st. What can commuters do to avoid travel problems? 'Travelers need to stay updated before heading out' is the advice of Øystein Dahl Johansen, press officer at Ruter. He recommends checking changes regularly through Ruter website or the Ruter app and keeping an eye on the interactive map. How important is the Oslo Metro? Very. In fact, more people ride the Oslo subway than all Norwegian trains combined. In 2023 alone, the subway had 111 million journeys, compared to 83 million on national trains. After the upgrade, subway capacity will increase by 20 percent.
Axios
23-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Phoenix is updating its decade-old historic preservation plan
Phoenix is updating its decade-old historic preservation plan. The big picture: The city looks to continue working toward the goals for historic preservation from its original 2015 plan and establish policies and activities to further accomplish them, Phoenix historic preservation officer Helana Ruter told Axios. Those goals are: Protecting archaeological resources Safeguarding historic resources Exploring preservation incentives Developing community awareness Promoting partnerships What's new: The draft 2025 plan looks to make a number of changes intended to build on those goals. Phoenix aims to expand its sustainability bonus program, offering developers benefits like added density and height in exchange for historic preservation. The downtown-centric program could be applied to walkable areas and light rail corridors. Ruter said Phoenix is unusual because it doesn't have a city-affiliated nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation. The plan proposes fixing that. New categories for preserving religious and commercial architecture are also in the works. What they're saying: Ruter said it's important to recognize that all places change over time, and with the new plan they hope to "balance growth and development with the preservation of resources that contribute to the character and story of Phoenix." Friction point: Proposition 207, which statewide voters approved in 2006, requires government to reimburse property owners for regulations that reduce their property value. This complicates historic designations, which protect properties from demolition and alterations. When the city designates neighborhoods as historic, it has property owners sign Prop. 207 waivers, but that gets difficult when you're dealing with areas that have hundreds of residents, Ruter said. Ruter said Phoenix is looking at what other municipalities have done with designations for historic neighborhoods and subdivisions. The city is also looking at using honorific historic designations. By the numbers: Since Phoenix created its historic property register in 1986, it's added 36 residential districts, nine non-residential districts and 232 individual properties. Ruter noted they've never added postwar subdivisions, "which is a huge area of the city's history." What's next: City officials are currently presenting on the plan to village planning committees, where they'll seek recommendations.
