1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Murcia
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Via Verde (Corredor Verde de Cordillera del Sur)
Short description of the intervention
This intervention was a proposed citizen project to connect the southern districts with Murcia by converting the abandoned railroad tracks into a green corridor. The intervention aims to transform the abandoned space into a green mobility corridor for various forms of transportation, from public buses to bicycles, and for pedestrian and leisurely use as well. (Reference 1 and 2). In 2019, there was the opening event to show this Green Corridor's construction, which is now the longest in the region.
Address

Ctra El Valle, 61
30120 Murcia
Spain

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Total area
40000.00m²
NBS area
40000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Previous derelict area
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
Old train lines.
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2008
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2016
End date of the intervention
2019
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
2016- negotiations with ADIF (railway company) still ongoing for the transfer of the land in question.
Goals of the intervention
The project intended to recover 8km of the past railway layout to rehabilitate a new green road for transport (ref 1).
The purpose of this green corridor was to:
-Improve connection and communication between the involved populations. (ref 1).
-Creation of a green corridor that connects seven districts to the south of the city centre, equipped with bicycle paths.
-Rehabilitate the space along the tracks of a former train line. (ref 1)
-Connect the citizens of the southern districts to Murcia. (ref 1)

Quantitative targets
8km of rehabilitated space along the tracks of a former train line, a corridor of green space connecting seven districts to the south of the city center
Equipped with a bicycle path between 8 and 15 meters wide
Installation of an ecological transport service (tram) beside the cycle path. (ref 1)
Monitoring indicators defined
unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Implementation activities
In 2008, the railway company abandoned the train tracks, and the citizen plan to convert them into a green corridor was presented. (ref 1) In 2015 the Socialist Party (Grupo Municipal Socialista) presented a formal proposal and started negotiations with ADIF (the railway company), as well as demands the clean-up of the train track and their surrounding area to prepare for the intervention. This proposal was passed by the plenary session. (ref 3) In 2016- negotiations with ADIF (railway company) still ongoing for the transfer of the land in question. In 2019 the opening of the Green Corridor was made.

Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Transformation of previously derelict areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Railroad bank and track greens
Parks and urban forests
Green corridors and green belts
Vegetation Type
Trees
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
1800 of 25 different species
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Roads, bike lanes
Amenities offered by the NBS
Sports areas and equipment
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The intervention was originally presented by citizens in 2008, and then by the Socialist Party in 2015. (ref 2)
IN order for the intervention to take place, the Murcia local government has to negotiate with ADIF (the railroad company) for the ceding of the area. (ref 2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Railway
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Let’s Change Murcia (Cambiemos Murcia) is a citizen participation strategy at the level of Murcia that was supporting the progression of this project. (ref 5)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Please specify other vegetation type
Pines, palms, cypresses
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Unknown
Type of fund(s) used
Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of land
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Other
Business models
Green densification model
Vacant space model
Please specify other environmental impact
Improve the environmental management of the green area.
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The intervention aims to transform an abandoned space into a green mobility corridor for various forms of transportation, from public buses to bicycles, and for pedestrian and leisurely use as well. However, this proposed multi-purpose corridor, with access to different vehicles is being challenged with some citizen groups pushing for it not to be accessible for buses and taxis. (ref 5)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is not referred to as being transferred to new initiative(s)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Other
Description of environmental benefits
The project resulted in the transformation of a previous anthropogenic made railroad into a green area to create an ecological connection between the different areas of the Cordillera del Sur and Murcia (Ref 1).
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Attraction of business and investment
Description of economic benefits
The project helped with the creation of a new commercial use zone through the corridor. (Ref 2 and 5), and th corridor creates a new place for investment and monetary capital in the region (Ref 2 and 5).
Social and cultural impacts
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Description of social and cultural benefits
The NBS increases transport communication in the area and it is also a pathway that can also be used for the recreation of the neighbours of the area (Ref 2).
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown (15/July/2020)
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Not applicable
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Los vecinos proponen un corredor verde para unir las pedanías de la Cordillera …
El PSOE apuesta por un corredor verde en el antiguo trazado de la vía por la Co…
Acuerdos aprobados para recuperar la zona de las vias.
). El PSOE que agilicen la cesión del Antiguo trazado ferroviario de la cordill…
Murcia: Grupo Municipal PSOE Murcia
Acuerdos aprobados para recuperar la zona de las vias. Murcia: Life in Beniajan…
El SOE aboga por crear “un corredor verde de recreo” en la Cordillera Sur
La Cordillera Sur da a conocer su Vía Verde con una carrera.
List of references
1. Montesinos, M. J. (2008). Los vecinos proponen un corredor verde para unir las pedanías de la Cordillera Sur. Murcia: La Verdad. Available at: http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/20081112/murcia/vecinos-proponen-corredor-verde-20081112.html (Accessed 15/July/2020)
2. La Verdad. (2015). El PSOE apuesta por un corredor verde en el antiguo trazado de la vía por la Cordillera Sur. Murcia: La Verdad. Available at: http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/ciudad-murcia/201509/21/psoe-apuesta-corredor-verde-20150921133925.html (Accessed 15/July/2020)
3. Noticias de Pedanias. (2016). El PSOE que agilicen la cesión del Antiguo trazado ferroviario de la cordillera sur para un corredor verde. Murcia. Noticias de Pedanías. Available at: http://www.pedaniasdemurcia.es/noticias/el-psoe-que-agilicen-la-cesion-del-antiguo-trazado-ferroviario-de-la-cordillera-sur-para-un-corredor-verde (Accessed 15/July/2020)
4. PSOE. (2016). Enrique Ayuso y el Corredor Verde (23/03/2016). Murcia: Grupo Municipal PSOE Murcia. 2017, Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUdwRrBnv0c (Accessed 15/July/2020)
5. Life in Beniajan. (2015). Acuerdos aprobados para recuperar la zona de las vias. Murcia: Life in Beniajan. Available at: https://lifeinbeniajan.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/acuerdos-aprobados-para-recuperar-la-zona-de-las-vias/ (Accessed 15/July/2020)
6. Serrano Solana, P. (2015). El SOE aboga por crear “un corredor verde de recreo” en la Cordillera Sur. Murcia: El Diario. Available at: https://www.eldiario.es/murcia/politica/psoe-corredor-recreo-cordillera-sur_1_2475149.html (Accessed 15/July/2020).
7.Murcia PSOE Grupo Municipal. (2016). El PSOE reclama al Ayuntamiento que agilice con Adif la cesión del antiguo trazado ferroviario de la Cordillera Sur para convertirlo en Corredor Verde. Murcia: Murcia PSOE Grupo Municipal. Available at: http://murciapsoe.es/2016/03/23/el-psoe-reclama-al-ayuntamiento-que-agilice-con-adif-la-cesion-del-antiguo-trazado-ferroviario-de-la-cordillera-sur-para-convertirlo-en-corredor-verde/. (Accessed 15/July/2020).
8. L.O. (2019) La Cordillera Sur da a conocer su Vía Verde con una carrera. Murcia: La Opinión de Murcia. Available at: https://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2019/05/14/cordillera-sur-da-conocer-via/1021160.html (Accessed 15/July/2020).
Comments and notes
Comments
The intervention information is mainly from the news. It seems to be now completed, as there was an opening event of the green corridor. There are no many indicators of how it was built, and which was the result.
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/cordillerasur.jpg
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda