The various actions undertaken in the Catalan capital cannot disguise the fact that their implementation has been rendered difficult by the wider economic crisis.
It is an inescapable truth that public transit in Barcelona is still feeling the effects of the economic crisis which has hit Spain and the rest of the world in the last few years. For example, ATM’s debt level increased by 11 % from 2012 to 2013, reaching a record peak of 546m Euros. The reasons behind the current difficulties are manifold. Firstly, the public transport authority has suffered a decrease in public funding, including funding from the national government, with the total dropping from 150m Euros in 2010 to 94m Euros in 2013. Secondly, ATM have had to cope with a fall in public transport usage (the metro system, for example, lost 35 million passengers between 2008 and 2013). "A significant proportion of travellers – almost 40 % – use public transport for their personal travel and personal recreation," explained Michel Pellot, TMB’s head of International Affairs. "Unfortunately, during an economic crisis, people lower their recreational spending and go out less. That is why our public transport system is badly affected now." Given that wider context, ATM decided to take the bull by the horns, raising the price of a single ticket from 1.40 Euros in 2011 to 2.15 Euros in 2014 – a move that caused consternation. In addition, a new bus network has been planned, in part, to reduce running costs. Although various initiatives are still being undertaken to attract passengers, some projects may be delayed or put at risk if the situation does not improve. In particular, the development of an automated metro system for the city continues to be affected (see box).
Since 2002, construction work has been carried out on a project to develop an automated metro network in Barcelona. The system comprises two lines, L9 and L10, as well as a planned 48 stations, and when completed it will be one of the largest automated metro networks in the world. Initially earmarked for completion in 2008, the project was nonetheless stalled by the economic crisis, in addition to technical problems. Much of it still hangs in the balance, in fact, despite small sections opening in 2009 and 2010, and plans to finish a section servicing the airport due to be completed in 2016. The total cost of the project now stands at an estimated 16bn Euros, according to the Catalan New Agency.