Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni has proposed an ambitious long-term plan to extend the Barcelona Metro network to the coastal towns of Mataró and Castelldefels. He outlined this vision on Wednesday morning during the “Barcelona Dialogue” conference at Foment del Treball headquarters.

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Mayor Collboni emphasised the city’s metropolitan dimension, stating that “making a true metropolis” requires ambitious mobility projects. He highlighted the concept of a “Barcelona of five million,” referring to the broader Barcelona Metropolitan Region. This reality already exists, he explained, beyond current institutional configurations.

The Mayor acknowledged the significant timeline for such a project. “Perhaps we will not see it, but it will arrive,” Collboni conceded regarding the Metro extension. While a project for Castelldefels exists, linked to Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, no current plans are in place for Mataró.

Ambitious Metropolitan Connectivity

Collboni’s proposal served to underscore that city and metropolitan challenges demand a larger scale of solutions. These challenges include metropolitan public transport, housing, and regional economic competitiveness. The city is currently laying the groundwork for a new model, developing a “new metropolitan general plan for the 21st century.” This crucial tool will replace the existing General Metropolitan Plan (PGM) from 1976, which has guided urban development for decades.

The new General Metropolitan Plan (PGM) aims to define future needs in housing, communication, economic spaces, and energy resources. It seeks to improve interconnectivity among the municipalities forming the metropolitan area and region, without delving deeply into the institutional structure this new reality should adopt.

Municipal Housing and Urban Development

The Mayor also addressed municipal policy, linking it to the broader metropolitan discourse. He defended his government’s actions, reiterating the commitment to ensure “the right of Barcelona residents to stay in the city.” Collboni specifically mentioned the Eixample district, home to approximately 260,000 residents, stating, “I refuse to accept that Barcelona families can no longer live in the centre of the Eixample.”

He contrasted his approach of market intervention with others who rely solely on market forces. His administration has implemented measures such as capping rental prices to make housing more accessible. Additionally, he plans to eliminate tourist flat licenses by 2028 if re-elected, a decision aimed at freeing up housing for local residents.

Driving New Cultural and Infrastructure Projects

Collboni also distanced his current mandate from the previous one, where he served as First Deputy Mayor under Ada Colau. He highlighted several major projects now underway that were not previously considered. These include the Liceu Mar, the Thyssen Museum, and the Tres Chimeneas hub, signalling a renewed focus on large-scale initiatives.

“We have projects again,” he insisted, citing opportunities like the Thyssen Baroness opening a museum for her private collection of Catalan painting. He connected these initiatives with major events, such as Barcelona’s designation as Capital of Architecture, enhancing the city’s international profile.

The Mayor also mentioned the Pope’s planned visit in June, acknowledging it does not depend on the city. He presented Barcelona as a “safe space with political stability” amidst recent global events. Collboni called for “optimism and ambition” to envision a future-oriented Barcelona compatible with a human-scale city.

He noted a “qualitative leap” expected in a few years, not only with the launch of new cultural facilities but also the operationalisation of the Sagrera station. Furthermore, expansions are planned for Sants station and Barcelona Airport, significantly boosting transport capacity.

He also stressed the need to resolve issues with the Rodalies commuter rail network, which “Barcelona residents also suffer from.” This forms part of a long-term transformation of mobility and public transport development across the region.

Despite these ambitious plans for metropolitan development and infrastructure, the extension of the Metro to Mataró appears to be a distant prospect. The Mayor’s vision sets a long-term direction for Barcelona’s growth and connectivity within its wider region.

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Originally published by El Nacional. Read original article.