This document summarizes the planning process for the Rail Baltica railway line in Latvia from 2014 to 2016. It describes the completion of technical studies, environmental impact assessments, and public consultation to determine the alignment of the route. Key outcomes included identifying technically and economically viable alignment options, engineering surveys, and environmental impact assessments. Extensive public hearings were held with over 5,100 participants providing feedback that informed additional analysis and alignment adjustments. Following further public engagement activities, 15 municipalities ultimately supported the recommended Rail Baltica alignment in Latvia.

1. Rail Baltica
planning
process
Neils Balgalis
Grupa93/RB Latvija
31/03/2016

2. Implementation schedule of Rail Baltica

3. Detailed technical study and environmental impact
assessment of the Latvian section of the European gauge
railway line Rail Baltica
ID No. SAM 2012/12 TEN-T
May, 2014 – August, 2016

4. General partnership
«RB Latvija»

5. Aim = to determine a precise alignment of the railway
line Rail Baltica in the territory of Latvia
(including links to the port and airport,
and to carry out EIA, relevant studies and preparatory works for the design of the
railway line, expropriation of land)

6. Results :
- Technical solutions for the technically, economically and legally possible alignment options of
the planned railway line Rail Baltica;
- Engineering surveys (topografical, geological, etc);
- Environmental Impact Assessment;
- the local plans of the new railway line (where necessary);
+
- the technical documentation for the next phase;
- recommendations for expropriation of the land properties for the railway line
- terms of reference and requirements of the Contracting Authority for design, construction, and
related processes
- cost – benefit analysis

14. Alignment of all options elaborated
within the study for the link with
Riga

15. EIA (Environmental Impact
Assesment) process (February, 2015 – now)

16. 265 km long
300 m wide corridor
location-location-location

17. EIA (Environmental Impact
Assesment) process
Initial Public Hearing
(March, 2015)
Elaboration of report
(April-November)
Public Hearing
(December, 2015)
Approvals by municipalities

18. Initial
public hearings
average number of people (per
meeting) – 300
hostile environment
= NIMBY wars

19. Initial public hearings in 15 municipalities
Why???
It’s already decided!!!
What are u talking about?

20. Emotional stories! Media likes
them!

21. Cartoons
& comments

22. Conspiration theories
WHITE STORK NESTS HAS BEEN
REMOVED!!!!

23. Twitter on RailBaltica

24. Media LOVES US!
Public Hearings @ Unprecedent Scale
February-March, 2015
more than 5100 people participated in meetings

25. Attitude of municipalities
after initial public hearing
positive – 10
neutral – 3
strictly negative – 2
600+ individual
letters/proposals

26. ???

27. The most democratic public hearing in Latvia
Achievements after 1st round:
Public involvement from the first steps of the project – 5 years
before construction process
Activity shows high level of civic society in Latvia– discussions,
proposals, cooperation
Time for advisory groups in regions!

28. EIA (Environmental Impact
Assesment) process
Initial Public Hearing
(March, 2015)
Elaboration of report
(April-November)
Public Hearing
(December, 2015)
Approvals by municipalities

29. Action plan - to create platform for next round of public
hearings
- advisory work groups in municipalities
- individual meetings on-site with private land
owners
- informative phone
- informative e-mail
- website www.railbaltica.info
- additional cartographic materials (DIY)

30. from heated discussions to the dialogue
process
Advisory work groups in Salacgriva,
Bauska, Limbazi, Sēja
more than 220 persons
long summer evenings
additional alternatives and solutions

31. www.railbaltica.info

34. Individual e-mails (1000+) &phone calls
(600+)

35. 265 km of preliminary railway design

36. from 300 m to 60 m

38. aerial photo for all alternatives 500 km
surface 3D model izveide

39. precīzs novietojums u
iespēja apskatīt savu
īpašumu

40. 30

41. more than 300 road crossings

42. more than100 river crossings
and culverts

43. Institutions
Latvijas valsts meži
Latvijas dzelzceļš
AS Latvijas elektriskie tīkli
Latvijas gāze
kā arī RIX, VKPAI, RM, RŪ, RS, PV, DAP, RPR, ZPR, u.c.
Latvijas valsts ceļi
Latvijas valsts ceļi

44. single corridors

45. 10 km of railway + existing higway in
Olainē un Ķekavā
100 km of railway + planned power
line (330 kV and 110 kV)
27 km of 1435 mm railway
+ existing 1520mm railway in Riga
20 km of railway + planned VIA
BALTICA highway in Bauska/Iecava

47. A picture is worth a thousand words
(October, 2015)
Detailed Technical Solutions – basis for 3-D models for specific objects and localities

55. EIA (Environmental Impact
Assesment) process
Initial Public Hearing
(March, 2015)
Elaboration of report
(April-November)
Public Hearing
(December, 2015)
Approvals by municipalities

56. Only 60 persons/per meeting?
No scandals?
= u are not interesting.

57. Results -
real participation process
Direct and open
cooperation with
municipalities and
inhabitants
= 15 municipalities
support the
recommendend
alignement of Rail
Baltica

58. Next steps (August, 2016)
• Approval of EIA report
• Topographical survey + final technical solutions
• Information for landowners
• Local plans in 13 municipalities

59. Kiitos/Thank You/Paldies!
neils@grupa93.lv