XpatAthens
Friday, 20 August 2021 07:00
Work Begins On Syntagma Square Makeover
Work on the long-anticipated renovation of the lower part of Syntagma Square has finally begun, 17 years since the original plan.
The project foresees the widening of the sidewalks near the start of the pedestrian Ermou Street and the creation of a new public space that will serve as an entrance point to the capital’s commercial and historical core. Approximately 1,000 square meters of space will be freed up for pedestrians.
The plan also stipulates the planting of 28 tall trees, visible pedestrian crossings, pergolas for shade as well as modern lighting systems. Interventions facilitating the disabled will also be included.
The 1.3 million euro project is funded by the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF, or ESPA in Greek) for 2021-27.
The makeover is based on a plan adopted in light of the 2004 Summer Olympics.
For more information, please visit: ekathimerini.com
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Monday, 30 August 2021 07:00
Public Transport Schedules Returning To Normal
The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) has announced that the frequency of bus, metro, trolleybus and tram services will return as of September 4 to pre-holiday conditions.
The bus and trolleybus network, in particular, is expected to be significantly strengthened this year due to the addition of new vehicles to the fleet.
Public transport will be further enhanced from 2022 onward, when the first electric buses will be integrated into Attica’s bus and trolleybus operator (OSY) network.
The announcement of the first phase of the tender for the supply of 600 buses (300 powered by electric, 300 gas and the rest hybrid) is scheduled for September.
Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Wednesday, 08 September 2021 07:00
Athens Center To Close To Traffic For Acropolis Rally
Much of Athens city center will be closed to traffic for up to 10 hours on Thursday, September 9th, for the start of the Acropolis Rally, which for the first time will include a special run through Syntagma Square.
To facilitate the event, all traffic around Syntagma and the Acropolis will be prohibited from 11 a.m. The prohibition on the parking and stopping of vehicles in the area will commence earlier at 6 a.m.
Also known as the Rally of Gods, the Acropolis Rally is the ninth stage of the 2021 World Rally Championship. The rally was first held in 1951 and has appeared in the WRC 38 times. This year marks the rally’s return to the WRC fold after leaving it in 2013.
The rally concludes on 12 September.
Meanwhile, police have announced that Mitropoleos Street and some surrounding roads will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. on Wednesday for the funeral of Mikis Theodorakis at Athens Cathedral.
Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Monday, 27 September 2021 12:35
Sting To Celebrate 70th Birthday With Concert In Athens’ Ancient Theater
British rock star Sting will celebrate his 70th birthday in Greece by giving two concerts on September 30, October 1 at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the slopes of the Athens Acropolis.
The “My Songs Tour”, which took Sting to several cities around the world, is in support of his thirteenth solo studio album My Songs, released on 24 May 2019.
It features new renditions of previously released songs from his illustrious four-and-a-half decade career, including fan favorites “Desert Rose,” “Fields of Gold,” “Englishman in New York” and The Police mega-hits “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle” and “Every Breath You Take.”
His sell-out concerts at the Odeon were highlight events during the Athens and Epidaurus Festival in late summer 2018. This time, the multi-award-winning artist, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, will be accompanied by his musician son, Joe Summer, frontman of the rock band Fiction Plane.
Alongside his son, Sting will be accompanied by an electric, rock ensemble including Dominic Miller (guitar), Josh Freese (drums), Rufus Miller (guitar), Kevon Webster (keyboard), Shane Sager (harmonica) with Melissa Musique and Gene Noble (backing vocals).
Sting, born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, was the principal songwriter, lead singer, and bassist for the new wave rock band the Police from 1977 to 1984. He launched a solo career in 1985 and has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age, and worldbeat in his music.
With the Police, Sting became one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Solo and with The Police combined, he has sold over 100 million records.
To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Monday, 27 September 2021 07:00
Athens' Neighborhoods Are Getting New Sidewalks
A number of neighborhoods in Athens are getting new sidewalks as part of the municipality’s efforts to improve the everyday life of residents, enhance safety and ensure better accessibility for people with disabilities.
Reconstruction and maintenance works began last month and are currently underway. Already restored are the sidewalks of several streets in the 1st and 3rd city districts, including Ious Street, part of the Trion Ierarchon Street, and Amphipoleos Street. The remaining four city districts are expected to see construction works in October.
Within the next two years, a total of 410 new sidewalks are expected to be created in Athen's seven city districts. Under the budget of 24 million euros, the two-year plan emphasizes the energy upgrade of the sidewalks, controlling high temperatures, and fighting global warming and climate change. That's exactly why restoration works include the use of new environmentally friendly materials.
Apart from reconstruction and maintenance works, municipal crews are also widening the city’s sidewalks and planting trees in certain areas.
"It's a project that, once complete, the image of a friendly and modern city will be restored. These modern sidewalks will let Athenians walk safely in the city and actually enjoy it, something that should have been self-evident for years. Our primary concern in this process is to ensure safe access to people with disabilities, including the visually impaired.", said Kostas Bakoyiannis, mayor of Athens.
XpatAthens extends a warm thank you to This Is Athens and the City Of Athens for sharing news and inspiring stories about how Athens aspires to be a clean, friendly, and welcoming city to live in
XpatAthens extends a warm thank you to This Is Athens and the City Of Athens for sharing news and inspiring stories about how Athens aspires to be a clean, friendly, and welcoming city to live in
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Thursday, 14 October 2021 07:00
New Tram Service Ready To Start In Piraeus
A new tram service set to initially connect the port of Piraeus with Neo Faliro is scheduled to take off next month, said Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister George Karagiannis this week
.
.
Speaking on SKAI radio, the minister admitted there were problems but went on to say that the government was committed to resolving issues and moving ahead with the tram, which “starts its routes to Piraeus in November. It will run a circular route from Neo Faliro with 12 new stations. Virtually the whole of Piraeus will be served.
Karagiannis said the ministry was implementing a comprehensive transportation and traffic plan, and also announced the creation of a transportation observatory.
Among others, work was proceeding for the completion of the Metro line to Athens International Airport from Piraeus.
“By the summer of 2022, in July, all three remaining stations will be ready – Piraeus, Municipal Theater, and Maniatika [stations]. So, the largest port in the country will be connected to the airport in under 50 minutes,” he said, adding that it will help ease traffic and improve the quality of life.
In this direction, the minister went on to refer to other transport infrastructure projects including the completion of the Western Egaleo ring-road, the extension of the suburban railway (proastiakos), the extension of the Metro towards western Athens suburb Ilion, the upgrade of the Athens-Corinth roadway as well as the extension of the Attiki Odos motorway towards Kymis Avenue.
Referring to Athens Metro Line 4 budgeted at 1.2 billion euros and funded by EU resources to cover the transportation needs of some 340,000 people daily, the minister said it will change the commuting habits in Attica.
Lastly, Karagiannis said a strategy was being drawn up to address traffic congestion in the center of Athens. Under the odd/even traffic regulation system dubbed the “green daktylios”, cars will be allowed entry into the city center based on plate number with the exception of electric vehicles.
Originally published on: news.gtp.gr
Originally published on: news.gtp.gr
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Friday, 15 October 2021 07:00
Athens Grant Walk: Downtown to Get Green Makeover
The redevelopment of central Athens’ Panepistimiou Avenue is part of a general urban redevelopment plan. So far the makeover has included park projects, pedestrian walkways, and major city square overhauls.
After major construction works on the central street of the capital, 19,360 square meters will be redeveloped. Athens will, presumably, have more aesthetically modernized and environmentally valuable public space after the renovation.
To enhance sustainable mobility by expanding existing sidewalks, 4270 square meters will be allocated for pedestrians, according to the makeover project. Another 2260 square meters of Athens green space (large flower beds with shrubs and seasonal plants), will be created.
A total of 87 new large plane trees are to be planted along Panepistimiou Avenue, lining both sides of the street. The Panepistimiou renovation has a budget of €3 million euros and is a plan Athens mayor Kostas Bakoyiannis believes in.
Upgrading Athens’ standard of living
The makeover aims to upgrade the standard of living in the urban center, the municipality says, making it more accessible and friendlier to Athens residents and visitors.
This stage of the project comes after the recent start of renovation work on the lower part of Athens’ Syntagma Square. The makeover renovations are scheduled to begin at the end of the year.
The works will continue for a period of up to 15 months, the Athens municipality announced. The makeover will allegedly follow the example of similar urban plans implemented in Berlin and Paris.
In an effort to clarify a number of issues (and take the pulse of the reactions), the Athens municipality has launched an FAQ series covering questions on the makeover project.
Athens authorities are noting that the disruption will be as little as possible in the capital. They have announced that works will be carried out in segments.
To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Monday, 18 October 2021 07:00
Athens University & Yale To Offer Joint Degrees
The universities of Athens and Yale have signed a memorandum of understanding in an initiative spearheaded by two Greeks, UoA professor of analytical chemistry Nikolaos Thomaidis and epidemiology professor Vasilis Vasiliou from the American university.
The initiative foresees two joint studies programs, one at the undergraduate level in environmental sciences and public health, and a master’s degree in environmental health.
Set to launch in the 2022-2023 academic year, the programs will be conducted in English and entail tuition fees, while graduates will come out with a double degree from both institutions.
The UoA and Yale also plan a center of excellence in environmental and public health studies bringing together research teams from the two universities. Joint papers have already been submitted on the subject of Covid-19, as a precursor to this initiative.
Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Thursday, 21 October 2021 07:00
Dactylios System To Return On Monday
There will be no tolls in the center of Athens, government spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou clarified, adding that there will be no measures beyond the usual restrictions on vehicles entering the city center downtown Athens that will take effect as of this coming Monday, October 25, 2021.
The restrictions are enforced every year and are designed to reduce traffic congestion in the city center. According to the Daktylios system, vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers can only enter the downtown area on even days of the month, while those ending in odd numbers can only do so on odd days.
Vehicles excluded from the measures are electric, hybrid, gas, or LPG cars, as well as Euro 6 cars that emit pollutants below 120 gr CO2 and drivers who have special permits.
The restrictions are enforced every year and are designed to reduce traffic congestion in the city center. According to the Daktylios system, vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers can only enter the downtown area on even days of the month, while those ending in odd numbers can only do so on odd days.
Vehicles excluded from the measures are electric, hybrid, gas, or LPG cars, as well as Euro 6 cars that emit pollutants below 120 gr CO2 and drivers who have special permits.
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Monday, 25 October 2021 12:16
Digital Passes For Eco-Friendly Cars To Enter Downtown Athens
Citizens can now be issued a special pass for the free movement in downtown Athens of environmentally friendly vehicles, according to the criteria set by the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry.
The usual restrictions on vehicles entering the city center took effect on Monday, October 25, 2021.
The restrictions are enforced every year and are designed to reduce traffic congestion in the downtown area.
According to the Daktylios system, vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers can only enter the downtown area on even days of the month, while those ending in odd numbers can only do so on odd days.
Vehicles excluded from the measures are electric, hybrid, gas, or LPG cars, as well as Euro 6 cars that emit pollutants below 120 gr CO2 and drivers with special permits.
The process of obtaining a special pass has been simplified.
Interested parties can access the service by logging on to daktylios.gov.gr, entering their Taxisnet codes and then submitting an application for the issuance of the special pass, after stating the registration number of the vehicle and their tax number (AFM).
The data of the vehicle are extracted from the registers of the Transport Ministry through the Interoperability Center of the Digital Government Ministry’s General Secretariat of Information Systems.
Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
The process of obtaining a special pass has been simplified.
Interested parties can access the service by logging on to daktylios.gov.gr, entering their Taxisnet codes and then submitting an application for the issuance of the special pass, after stating the registration number of the vehicle and their tax number (AFM).
The data of the vehicle are extracted from the registers of the Transport Ministry through the Interoperability Center of the Digital Government Ministry’s General Secretariat of Information Systems.
Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
