Politics
Ljubljana City Council Approves 2026 Transport Budget Reallocation, Expanding Central Bus Routes While Cutting Outer District Road Works
The reallocation directs €12 million toward new bus services in central Ljubljana neighbourhoods while reducing road maintenance funds for outer districts such as Vič and Šiška.
How we reported this
The Ljubljana City Council passed the 2026 Municipal Transport Budget on 8 July, shifting €12 million from general road maintenance to new bus routes and dedicated lanes serving the city centre and Bežigrad. The change takes effect on 1 January 2027 and applies only to municipal roads within Ljubljana municipality boundaries.
Slovenia’s national budget papers released in June projected a 4 percent rise in Ljubljana’s transport allocation for the coming year, yet the council chose to concentrate the increase on high-ridership corridors rather than spread it evenly. Local government records show the decision followed a March audit that identified 18 kilometres of central roads already exceeding 80 percent capacity during peak hours.
Daily travel changes for residents
Households in the city centre and Bežigrad will gain two additional bus lines running every 8 minutes during weekday mornings, with stops added at Prešernov trg and the main railway station. Residents in Vič and Šiška will see scheduled road resurfacing delayed by at least two years, leaving sections of Cesta v Zgornji Log and Celovška cesta with existing pothole repairs only.
Policy analysts at the Ljubljana Urban Institute note that the new routes target the 62,000 daily commuters who enter the central zone by public transport, while outer-district drivers account for the majority of the 41,000 vehicles recorded on municipal roads outside the ring road each weekday.
Budget figures and next steps
The approved document lists €8.4 million for 14 new articulated buses and €3.6 million for lane markings and traffic signals. The remaining road maintenance budget falls to €9.1 million, down from €21.1 million in the 2025 allocation published on the city website.
Implementation begins with a public consultation period running until 15 September, after which the municipal administration will publish final route maps and a revised maintenance schedule for outer districts. The next council vote on any adjustments is scheduled for November.