The project involves a total investment of 12 million euros, from the Integrated Urban Plans, financed with Pnrr funds. During the presentation, the metropolitan mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà, the metropolitan deputy mayor, Carmelo Versace, the metropolitan manager of the sector, Pietro Foti, the president of the Reggio Calabria Chamber of Commerce, Antonino Tramontana, the representative of the Gnosis design studio, took part Felice Buonfantino and the CEO of Atam, Giuseppe Basile.
In detail, the work involves three redevelopment and recovery interventions: the complete redevelopment of the area of via Foro Boario, with the further creation of areas equipped for the integration of the different transport modes already existing or under construction, points of interchange between buses and sharing systems, infrastructures to support electric traction vehicles, services intended for the promotion and support of public transport, services to people through Atam contact centres, also in relation to the adjacent area of the Botanical Garden , areas dedicated to free time and social gatherings, with the creation of a new greenhouse, refreshment point, areas dedicated to cultural promotion and green areas equipped for public use. The project also envisages, among other things, the creation of the new Omnibus on-demand transport service to be carried out in the Municipalities of the internal areas with weak demand in the metropolitan area, aimed at making journeys mainly along the sea-mountain route, with particular attention to the areas weaker ones penalized in the right to mobility, and integrated with other modes of transport in modal interchange areas.
For the metropolitan deputy mayor, Carmelo Versace, “this project demonstrates the concrete commitment of a public body towards its territory, but also of a company that guarantees, always with maximum efficiency, the increasingly necessary public transport service, knowing how to modernize, while remaining attentive to the many needs of its users”.
“Atam was one of the very first emergencies that we, as the municipal administration, faced 10 years ago when the books were in court and the judge was about to declare its bankruptcy” said the metropolitan mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà, adding: “In a very responsible municipal council, we assigned the property of the former Foro Boario to Atam which today sees this project of urban regeneration and redevelopment of spaces, also of reorganization of Atam’s offices, but above all of a public space for the recovery of the ‘Botanic Garden and the botanical garden which will be open to schools and families. Thus a circle is closed – the mayor recalled – which asks us to reflect on whether Atam has gone from near bankruptcy to being one of the best public transport companies in Italy, and why there has been an investment, a political direction and a will and we must all be fully aware of this, we institutions, top management and every employee. We need to do a daily witnessing exercise. In this case I would also like to thank the metropolitan deputy mayor, Carmelo Versace, who during my absence started much of the preliminary phase of this splendid project”. “I am particularly proud – highlighted Falcomatà – also for the synergy with the Chamber of Commerce with which there is a relationship of loyal, sincere and concrete collaboration, not aimed at a single project but at a way and an idea of vision and development of the city in which everyone for their own part must carry out their respective tasks”.
“He said it in recent days – the mayor said again – even our archbishop, when we inaugurated the headquarters of the recycling center, in an asset confiscated from the ndrangheta and built with funds from the Municipality of the Pon Metro and assigned to the Rom 95 cooperative. There is an extraordinary need to create a team or synergy that in our territory it doesn’t happen. When we concretely, loyally and sincerely recognize each other as travel companions, it is a value that should not be trivialized, rather it should be underlined so that – concluded Falcomatà – can also be an example for other situations”
