land Article The Potential of Tram Networks in the Revitalization of the Warsaw Landscape Jan Łukaszkiewicz 1 , Beata Fortuna-Antoszkiewicz 1, Łukasz Oleszczuk 2 and Jitka Fialová 3,* 1 Department of Landscape Architecture, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, UL. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warszaw, Poland; [email protected] (J.Ł.); [email protected] (B.F.-A.) 2 Legal and Analytical Services Department, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland; [email protected] 3 Department of Landscape Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic * Correspondence: Jitka.fi[email protected]; Tel.: +420-545134096 Abstract: The current crisis of worldwide agglomeration and economic, spatial, and ownership factors, among others, mean that there is usually a shortage of new green areas, which are socially very beneficial. Therefore, various brownfields or degraded lands along public transport routes, e.g., tram lanes, are effectively transformed for this purpose. The significant potential of tram systems is that they can became a backbone of green corridors across the city. This case study of the Warsaw tram system (total length over 300 km of single tracks in service in 2019) enables us to simulate the potential growth of a biologically active area connected with an increasing share of greenery around tram lanes in Warsaw. Experience allows the authors to present the types of greenery systems based on existing and future tram corridors best suited for this city. The suggested usage of tram Citation: Łukaszkiewicz, J.; lanes as green corridors is in line with the generally-accepted concept of urban green infrastructure. Fortuna-Antoszkiewicz, B.; Therefore, the aim of the authors is to present in a condensed fashion their views on a very important Oleszczuk, Ł.; Fialová, J. The Potential of Tram Networks in the issue within the program of the revitalization of the Warsaw landscape by converting where possible Revitalization of the Warsaw the existing tram lines, as well as planning new ones according to the “green point of view”. Landscape. Land 2021, 10, 375. https://doi.org/10.3390/ Keywords: cityscape visual perception; green infrastructure; linear parks; sustainable landscape land10040375 planning; tram lanes; Warsaw Academic Editors: Alessio Russo and Giuseppe T. Cirella 1. Introduction Received: 26 February 2021 Warsaw, Poland’s capital, has a unique character as it was almost totally destroyed Accepted: 1 April 2021 during the German occupation (the World War II period). Reconstruction of its infras- Published: 4 April 2021 tructure took decades and still is not complete. In addition, progression of the town’s growth could not be based on the development of the existing structure, including the Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral transportation system. The authors strongly believe that the growing demand for moving with regard to jurisdictional claims in masses of people around the city is best fulfilled by the modernization and construction of published maps and institutional affil- iations. the tram lines. In the last few decades, there has been a fundamental change in the concept of de- signing tramway networks all over the world [1–5]. Concerning trams, passenger and environmentally friendly solutions are introduced by increasing accessibility, improv- ing travel efficiency, and reducing energy consumption, thus reducing environmental Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. costs [1–8]. The use of the multi-factor analysis method at each level of tram route planning Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. and extensive promotional and information campaigns cause tramways to receive more This article is an open access article and more social attention, as does the involvement of future passengers in the open debate distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons at the design analysis stage (e.g., [5,7–11]). In this context, it is no exaggeration to say Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// that the tramway as a form of public transport becomes a stimulus for developing and creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ revitalizing cities [4,12]. Despite the multitude of solutions used in different countries, 4.0/). there are some similarities between them. One worth noting is the adaptation of degraded, Land 2021, 10, 375. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10040375 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land Land 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 24 some similarities between them. One worth noting is the adaptation of degraded, frag- mented, and marginalized space around buildings and elements of technical infrastruc- Land 2021, 10, 375 2 of 24 ture within tram routes, and incorporating them again into the urban composition [1,2,4,5]. By introducing linear green systems accompanying tram lanes (insulating, eco- logical, and decorative functions) and new publicly accessible places for recreation and fragmented,relaxation, anda new marginalized quality in space urban around planning buildings is achieved, and elements which of technical is also infrastruc- particularly im- ture within tram routes, and incorporating them again into the urban composition [1,2,4,5]. portant for the social quality during the COVID-19 pandemic [13–16]. By introducing linear green systems accompanying tram lanes (insulating, ecological, and decorativeThe crisis functions) of urban and newand publiclyindustrial accessible agglomer placesations for observed recreation worldwide and relaxation, at the a turn of newthe 21st quality century in urban manifested planning isitself achieved, in severa whichl severe is also dysfunctions. particularly important Therefore, for thein the 21st socialcentury, quality there during is a thegrowing COVID-19 need pandemic to transf [13orm–16 ].cities towards restoring the urban land- scape’sThe harmony crisis of urban and improving and industrial the agglomerations inhabitants’ living observed conditions. worldwide Among at the others, turn a skill- offul the transformation 21st century manifested with a humanistic itself in several approach severe to dysfunctions. the entire complex Therefore, cultural in the21st and natural century,structure there of isthe a growingurban fabric need to is transform needed (e.g., cities towards[17–22]). restoring Phenomena the urban such landscape’s as the intensified harmonyglobal migration and improving of people the inhabitants’to cities (ca. living 5.0 billion conditions. in 2030) Among [7], rising others, energy a skillful prices, and transformation with a humanistic approach to the entire complex cultural and natural the degradation of the environment and landscapes—a light-hearted instrumental ap- structure of the urban fabric is needed (e.g., [17–22]). Phenomena such as the intensified globalproach migration to natural of peopleresources to cities [23]—overlap (ca. 5.0 billion with in 2030) the already [7], rising existing energy prices,various and shortcomings the degradationof the existing of the functional environment and andspatial landscapes—a solutions in light-hearted cities, such instrumental as the density approach of buildings in tocity natural centers resources or the [phenomenon23]—overlap with of “urban the already sprawl” existing [13,14,20,22,24]. various shortcomings of the existingOne functional of the ever-present and spatial solutions problems in cities, is the such inadequate as the density development of buildings of in urban city public centerstransport or the systems, phenomenon which of must “urban continuously sprawl” [13,14 be,20 ,adapted22,24]. to the arising social needs in termsOne of ofquality the ever-present and efficiency problems (e.g., is the[1,4,1 inadequate6,25–27]). development It is already of estimated urban public that urban transporttransport systems, systems which worldwide must continuouslyhave such a significant be adapted impact to the arising on the socialenvironment needs in that they terms of quality and efficiency (e.g., [1,4,16,25–27]). It is already estimated that urban are responsible for 20–25% of global energy consumption, CO2 emissions to the atmos- transport systems worldwide have such a significant impact on the environment that phere, gaseous pollutants (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—PAHs), and dust (e.g., they are responsible for 20–25% of global energy consumption, CO2 emissions to the atmosphere,particulate gaseousmatter—PM) pollutants [27–35]. (e.g., polycyclicFor these aromaticreasons, hydrocarbons—PAHs),urban transport based and on dust private cars (e.g.,and particulatediesel buses matter—PM) is gradually [27– becoming35]. For these a thing reasons, of urbanthe past transport [2,3,6,9]. based The on future private of urban carspassenger and diesel transport buses is graduallyinvolves becomingfour areas a thingthat are of the developing past [2,3,6,9 very]. The rapidly: future of electrification, urban passengerautonomy, transport connectivity, involves and four sharing areas that [8]. are developing very rapidly: electrification, autonomy,In line connectivity, with the concept and sharing of “sustainable [8]. transport”, which is increasingly used all over the worldIn line withand is the part concept of “smart of “sustainable cities” of transport”, the future, which the isaim increasingly is to create used a public all over transport thesystems world with and isa partbalanced of “smart impact cities” on of society, the future, the theenvironment, aim is to create and a climate public transport [5,36]. There are