Riga plans overhaul of water transport and pier management
Riga City Council is preparing to reform the management of piers and water transport by unifying it under one department and introducing a new pier system. A pilot project for regular passenger service between Bolderāja and Vecmīlgrāvis is also planned.
The Riga municipality intends to reorganize the management of water transport and piers, which is currently split between two departments — the Outdoor Mobility Department (ĀMD) and the Housing and Environment Department. Each has followed its own approach to pier rental auctions, and officials found that some areas fall under no department's responsibility at all. As a result, all municipal piers are to be classified as transport infrastructure and placed under ĀMD, which would also be tasked with drafting new binding regulations, since no unified framework currently governs water transport in Riga.
Three types of piers
The plan envisions three pier categories: piers for regular passenger water transport, long-term piers, and short-term piers, the latter functioning much like parking spaces. All rental rights would be awarded through auctions, but unlike the current system, where the sole criterion is the highest bid, the new approach would apply standardized requirements and evaluation criteria. Auctions could be held six to twelve months before the boating season. For short-term piers, a digital booking and payment tool is planned, possibly built on the "Mobilly" app.
Bolderāja–Vecmīlgrāvis pilot
A procurement process is planned to secure regular passenger trips between Bolderāja and Vecmīlgrāvis over five months, from May to September. A ticket could cost 1.5 euros, with an initial offering of two round trips a day, in the morning and evening. The operator would be required to track passenger numbers and conduct a user survey. The initiative follows a collective petition signed by 2,331 residents requesting regular ferry service on this route.
The report also calls for new piers on the 11 November Embankment and Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment, reconstruction of the embankment section between the Vanšu Bridge and the Railway Bridge, and dredging of the Zunda and City canals. Riga City Council's Urban Development Committee will review the report on August 10, followed by a boat trip to inspect the planned route.
