The new terminus of Brussels' tram line 62 will be located at the Brugmann Hospital in the municipality of Laeken, announced the region's public transport operator STIB.
Tram 62 used to have a terminus at Jette cemetery but that stop disappeared when the surrounding neighbourhood was redeveloped. The works on the cemetery and surrounding tram tracks are nearing completion.
The latest permit application now shows that STIB has found a new location for the terminus: Place Arthur Van Gehuchten, at the entrance to the Brugmann Hospital in Laeken.
That square, together with the surrounding Avenue Guillaume De Greef and Avenue Ernest Masoin in neighbouring Jette, will have a thorough facelift. The plans were developed with the Árter architecture firm, which previously renovated the Place Fernand Cocq in Ixelles.
Credit: STIB/Árter/Staghilll via openpermits.brussels
The plans include a deeper, green tram bed with better accessibility for people with reduced mobility and better rainwater infiltration. There will be 52 additional bicycle parking spaces in the area, five drop-off zones for sharing scooters and bikes, and six parking spaces for people with disabilities.
Around 70 car parking spaces will have to be removed from the two avenues and the square. Several trees will also have to be cut down, albeit to make way for new greenery: a total of 91 new trees will be planted, mainly on the square and in the Avenue Ernest Masoin, both taller and lower species.
STIB intends to cut down 67 existing trees first, including 50 of the 53 in the Avenue Guillaume De Greef. After the redevelopment, the neighbourhood will have 24 more trees than today.
Finally, there will be new lighting in and around the square, a public toilet that is also accessible for wheelchair users, new benches and a playground for children.
The permit application was submitted this month and is available via openpermits.brussels.
