Budapest’s tram network on the Buda side of the capital is set to expand southwards, after the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) launched a public procurement tender for the design of an extension along Budafoki Road.
Design tender launched for Budafoki Road extension
Minister of Transport and Investment Dávid Vitézy announced the development, saying the project would help ease road congestion in southern Buda, where thousands of people have moved into newly built residential developments without a corresponding improvement in public transport.
The first phase of the proposed extension would run as far as Építész Street, with a subsequent phase planned to continue towards Budafok railway station. The design work will also cover missing track connections near Irinyi József Street, upgrades to tram junctions and terminals, and a comprehensive renovation of public spaces along Budafoki Road.
Plans include expanding green areas and improving pedestrian and cycling connections, alongside the new tram infrastructure.
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People moving to Budapest put increased pressure on the road
Vitézy said more than 10,000 people had moved into the area in recent years, while high-quality fixed-track public transport had failed to keep pace with residential construction. As a result, traffic congestion had become a regular problem.
He also pointed to further housing developments in the pipeline, including a planned residential complex of 2,400 homes recently approved by the Újbuda local council. According to the minister, the project was authorised without requiring any related transport infrastructure improvements.
Vitézy argued that future housing developments should be better coordinated with public transport investment, and said developers should contribute to the infrastructure needed to serve new residents.
EU funding to support tram projects
The minister said the southern extension would be financed through European Union funding. He also announced that construction work on another section of the Buda tram network, along the Műegyetem Embankment, would begin shortly under the ministry’s supervision.
Vitézy said Budapest had gone almost two municipal terms without a new tram line being built, describing this as a serious problem for urban development. He added that recent efforts had accelerated transport projects, with the aim of making up for lost time.
The minister said the longer-term priority was to ensure that new housing was built alongside reliable, sustainable public transport, rather than allowing residential areas to expand without adequate infrastructure.
