In 2023, Tartu submitted the revitalized Port Railway to the Green Destinations Top 100 Success Stories
The idea of transforming the former railway corridor into a pedestrian and bicycle path was proposed several times in Tartu’s participatory budgeting, where it gained support from residents in 2021. Instead of the originally planned main road for the Port Railway corridor, the establishment of a pedestrian and cycling path and a linear park is a vivid example of changing perceptions and expectations in urban development.
In 2022, the Port Railway was covered with crushed asphalt and transformed into a 2.5 km long pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly path. Additional features included lighting, road expansions with benches and trash bins, installation of culverts for water drainage, and solutions for intersections with vehicle traffic. In the coming years, the area will continue to be developed as a green corridor and linear park. Today, the Port Railway is an important part of both the city’s green spaces and cycling network.
