Boats across the Dnipro in Kyiv: when the launch is possible and which routes were considered

The pilot route for boats across the Dnipro in Kyiv could be launched in the spring of 2027 if preparations begin now, believes ProMobility Director Dmytro Bespalov. Currently, the city is using temporary traffic schemes between the banks, and the transport model shows where water routes could complement the connections. This is reported by Telegraf.

Where boats can operate in Kyiv and what demand was forecasted

Bespalov's team modeled river transport in 2019 and 2020. The calculations from 2020 showed such demand on two routes:

• Post Square – Rusanivska Embankment: about 870 trips per day in both directions.
• Post Square – Bereznyaky: about 950 trips per day in both directions.

Together, this is about 1820 trips per day according to the 2020 model. Bespalov explains that demand depends on how many people live near one pier and work near another. The water route can save the most time for those who currently travel around via bridges between the banks.

How many people boats will transport during peak hours and when the launch is possible

According to Bespalov's estimate, a boat with 150 seats can carry up to 600 passengers per hour in one direction at a 15-minute interval. This means four trips per hour at full capacity. By comparison, during peak hours, metro trains transport 10-15 thousand passengers per hour across the Metro Bridge.

Bespalov considers it realistic to launch one pilot route during peak hours in the spring of 2027. This is the expert's estimate assuming that preparations start now. After the ferry crossings were damaged, the city has already restored part of the traffic on the Northern Bridge for passenger transport.