Barcelona authorities have announced plans for a radical overhaul of intercity bus routes: the number of buses arriving in the city center will be significantly reduced. According to El Pais, the city administration is preparing a large-scale restructuring of the transport infrastructure to ease congestion in central streets and improve connections with the metro and tram systems.
According to Barcelona’s first deputy mayor Laia Bonet, around 270,000 people arrive in and leave the city by bus every day. After disruptions in the suburban rail service (Rodalies), the burden on buses has increased, with the number of trips rising from 6,000 to 7,000 per day. However, the current infrastructure cannot cope—dozens of buses drop passengers directly on the streets, causing chaos and interfering with traffic.
New underground stations
In response to the problem, city authorities together with the Catalan government are developing a project to build three major underground transit hubs. These will be located at Sagrera station, in the area of Plaça Espanya, and on Diagonal Avenue. All new stations will be integrated with metro and tram lines so that passengers can quickly transfer to urban transport without immediately ending up on busy streets.
Specifically, there are plans to create an underground station for intercity buses at Sagrera, next to the future high-speed train station. In the Espanya area, a project for an underground terminal has already been approved, while on Diagonal, options are being considered to place a transfer hub near Francesc Macià (with access to the L8 line and the tram) or Maria Cristina (close to the L3 line and not far from L9).
Route changes and new rules
Over the next two years, the city will update and modernize about twenty intercity bus stops. Work will begin in 2027. In the long term, major transfer stations are planned at all main entrances to the city: Diagonal, Meridiana, Gran Via Sur, and Gran Via Nord. This will make it possible to redirect buses from central streets to the outskirts and relieve pressure on spots like Ronda Universitat and Gran Via, which have now effectively turned into spontaneous bus terminals.
Authorities emphasize that they do not plan to build a large station at every entrance: the infrastructure will be adapted to the specifics of each transport corridor. The main goal is to ensure convenient transfers and reduce the flow of buses into the city center. As a result, for example, buses traveling along Gran Via will no longer reach Universitat Square.
Emphasis on public transport
At the same time, the city continues to invest in the development of the metro and tram systems. In the near future, an agreement will be approved to finance the extension of the tram line along Diagonal, as well as to update the project for the extension of the L2 metro line to the Marina del Prat Vermell district. Priorities include extending the L3 line to the new Clínic hospital and towards Esplugues and Sant Feliu de Llobregat, as well as expanding L4 from La Pau to Sagrera. Authorities note that these projects require significant investment and will not be completed quickly, but they are considered critically important for the city.
Another goal is to reduce the number of trips made by private vehicles. Currently, cars account for about 40% of all movement within Barcelona. The city aims to decrease this figure by a quarter of a million trips per day through the development of public transport and the creation of new interchanges.
Transition to eco-friendly buses
Authorities acknowledge that intercity buses still mainly operate on traditional fuel for now, but they point to a rapid shift to eco-friendly technologies. In the coming years, the bus fleet will be renewed and fully decarbonized routes will be introduced. In addition, dedicated bus lanes will appear at key city entry points, allowing for increased speeds and a 10–25% rise in passenger traffic.
According to El Pais, city officials believe that the combined measures to upgrade infrastructure and expand public transport will make Barcelona more convenient and environmentally friendly for residents and visitors.
