Politics
Noord City Council Passes Public Transport Enhancement Plan, Altering Commute Routes for Eastern Suburb Residents
The July 7 vote adds two bus lines and adjusts fares starting in September, directly changing travel times and costs for households that use public transit to reach jobs and schools.
How we reported this
Noord City Council approved the Public Transport Enhancement Plan by an 8-3 vote on July 7. The measure adds two new bus routes serving the eastern suburbs and raises single fares by a projected amount tied to the 2026-27 transport budget.
The decision follows national guidance on urban mobility funding released in June. Local transport officials had reported rising passenger numbers on existing lines during peak hours, with the city transport department logging 1.2 million boardings in the first quarter of this year.
Changes for daily travel in Noord
Residents along the new Route 17 will gain a direct link from the industrial zone to the central station without changing vehicles. Shift workers at the port facilities can now reach home in under 25 minutes during evening hours instead of the current 40-minute average. Families in the Zeedijk neighbourhood will see an extra morning service on Route 9 that aligns with school start times at three primary locations.
The council documents state that the plan draws 2.8 million euros from the existing transport reserve fund. That allocation covers vehicle purchases and driver hiring for the first 18 months of operation. Current monthly ridership stands at 85,000 across all routes, and the department projects the additions will serve an extra 12,000 trips each month once fully running.
Next steps after the vote
Fare adjustments begin on September 1. The city transport office will publish updated timetables on its website by August 20. Residents may register comments on the route alignments through the council portal until July 31, after which final scheduling adjustments will be confirmed.