The initiative has a budget of €435 million (c. £383m) with more than 3,000 actions planned all around the city.

The contract for Kapsch TrafficCom, valued at €4.9m (c. £4.32m), will be executed across two-and-a-half years and focuses on upgrading critical traffic infrastructure in four of the ten districts of Barcelona.

This includes improving traffic for more than 500,000 district inhabitants and more than 10 million tourists visiting Barcelona every year. 

The company will be responsible for maintaining the intersection systems around the clock, including blind pedestrian assistance systems, access control, vehicle detection loops, priority bus systems and fire brigade corridors, among other elements. 

A key component of the project is the integration of traffic controllers (the hardware that controls traffic lights) by Kapsch TrafficCom into Barcelona’s central traffic management system.

Successful deployment hinges on passing compatibility tests with the city’s control center, ensuring seamless functionality and compliance with standardised protocols. 

Kapsch TrafficCom Spain and Portugal general manager, Juan Zamakona, said: “Barcelona is taking a major step toward a smarter, safer, and more sustainable urban mobility network.

“Through this contract, we will be upgrading hundreds of traffic management components across four districts, including the installation of new EcotrafiX controllers, replacing outdated infrastructure, and improving accessibility for all pedestrians.

“Our long-standing expertise in traffic solutions, with over 30 years of maintenance experience in the city, positions us perfectly to deliver an efficient and future-proof system.”