Andorra Parishes Finalize Tram Route Amid Depot and Parking Challenges

Sant Julià de Lòria's local council and the State Secretariat for Transport are collaborating to finalise the tram route, with a focus on selecting sites for the depot where trams will be stored and a potential dissuasive car park at the parish entrance.

Cerni Cairat, the parish's lead consul, told the Diari d'Andorra that these remain the project's most challenging elements. The car park aims to reduce road traffic by encouraging drivers to park and switch to public transport, though officials have yet to decide whether to prioritise spaces for residents or visitors. "We hold regular meetings to refine the project thoroughly," Cairat said.

The council is also assessing the tram's broader effects on parish mobility. Capacity studies show the CG-1 road through Sant Julià operates near saturation, particularly during peak periods. Planners will examine impacts on garage access, overall traffic flow and pedestrian movement.

Meanwhile, Escaldes-Engordany council has responded to the government's initial route proposal, endorsing most of it but requesting a technical change to relocate one interchange and replace it with an alternative.

Andorra la Vella, the capital, has commissioned a supplementary study to check if the proposed alignment aligns with its ongoing review of the parish's urban planning framework (POUP). This will identify any spaces needed to integrate the tram with future city growth.

The three parishes—Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany—were due to submit their route feedback to the government a week ago. The final layout will feature in the sectoral plan for segregated public transport infrastructure, which the executive must produce before the end of the current term.

Separately, the government and Catalonia's Generalitat are evaluating a cross-border link from Sant Julià to La Seu d'Urgell, which could eventually connect to the Sant Julià-Escaldes line, ending at Caldea.