Editing Riga (section)

== Transport ==
[[File:16-08-31-Škoda 24Tr Irisbus Riga-RR2 4505.jpg|thumb|One of the several trolleybus types in Riga]]
[[File:Riga tram 57201 2020-03.jpg|thumb|A [[Škoda 15 T]] tram in Riga]]
[[File:Latvia railways frequency of commuter trains 2016.svg|thumb|upright=1.4|Riga is a large hub in the [[Pasažieru vilciens|Passenger Train]] network: commuter train frequency in 2016.]]
Riga, with its central geographic position and concentration of population, has always been the infrastructural hub of Latvia. Several [[List of national roads in Latvia|national roads]] begin in Riga, and [[European route E22]] crosses Riga from the east and west, while the [[European route E67|Via Baltica]] crosses Riga from the south and north.

As a city situated by a river, Riga also has several bridges. The oldest-standing bridge is the [[Railway Bridge, Riga|Railway Bridge]], which is also the only railroad-carrying bridge in Riga. The [[Stone Bridge, Riga|Stone Bridge]] (''Akmens tilts'') connects [[Old Riga]] and [[Pārdaugava]]; the [[Island Bridge, Riga|Island Bridge]] (''Salu tilts'') connects [[Maskavas Forštate]] and Pārdaugava via [[Zaķusala]]; and the [[Vanšu Bridge|Shroud Bridge]] (''Vanšu tilts'') connects Old Riga and Pārdaugava via [[Ķīpsala]]. In 2008, the first stage of the new [[Southern Bridge]] (''Dienvidu tilts'') route across the Daugava was completed, and was opened to traffic on 17 November.<ref name="rdpad1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rdpad.lv/en/south_bridge/|title=Explanatory Note on Planning and Building of the Southern Bridge Route|publisher=Riga City Council City Development Department|access-date=21 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091749/http://www.rdpad.lv/en/south_bridge/|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref>

The Southern Bridge was the biggest{{Dubious|date=July 2024}} construction project in the Baltic states in 20 years, and its purpose was to reduce [[traffic congestion]] in the city centre.<ref name="dienvidu">{{cite web|url=http://www.dienvidutilts.lv/index.php?lang_id=2&menu_id=18|title=Introduction |access-date=21 August 2007|publisher=Dienvidu Tilts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915162206/http://www.dienvidutilts.lv/index.php?lang_id=2&menu_id=18|archive-date=15 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="rdsd">{{cite web|url=http://www.rdsd.lv/?ct=dienvidu_tilts|title=Dienvidu tilta maģistrālie pievedceļi|language=lv|publisher=rdsd.lv|access-date=27 July 2009|archive-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904113143/http://www.rdsd.lv/?ct=dienvidu_tilts|url-status=live}}</ref> Another major construction project is the planned Riga Northern [[transport corridor]];<ref name="zkoridors">{{cite web|url=http://www.ziemelukoridors.lv/pages/main.php?l=en&tema=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806213831/http://www.ziemelukoridors.lv/pages/main.php?l=en&tema=2 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |title=Northern Corridor; About project |access-date=21 August 2007 |publisher=ziemelukoridors.lv}}</ref> its first segment detailed project was completed in 2015.<ref name="rdpad2">{{cite web|url=http://www.rdpad.lv/izstradats-rigas-ziemelu-transporta-koridora-1-posma-tehniskais-projekts-buvprojekts/|title=Izstrādāts Rīgas Ziemeļu transporta koridora 1.posma tehniskais projekts / būvprojekts|date=29 December 2015 |publisher=Riga City Council City Development Department|language=lv|access-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216034547/http://www.rdpad.lv/izstradats-rigas-ziemelu-transporta-koridora-1-posma-tehniskais-projekts-buvprojekts/|archive-date=16 February 2016}}</ref>

The [[Freeport of Riga]] facilitates cargo and passenger traffic by sea. Sea ferries connect [[Riga Passenger Terminal]] to [[Stockholm]] operated by [[Tallink]].<ref name="tallink">{{cite web|url=http://www.tallinksilja.com/lv/web/lv/riga-stokholma|title=Kursēšanas grafiki|language=lv|publisher=[[Tallink]]|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201060917/http://www.tallinksilja.com/lv/web/lv/riga-stokholma|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Riga has one active airport that serves commercial airlines—the [[Riga International Airport]] (RIX), built in 1973. It is the primary hub of [[AirBaltic]] and a base for [[Ryanair|RyanAir]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaivade |first=Samanta |date=2023-04-12 |title=Latvia Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know |url=https://travelspill.com/guides/comprehensive-guide-to-latvia-3096/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Travel Spill |language=en-US}}</ref> Renovation and modernisation of the airport was completed in 2001, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the city. In 2006, a new terminal extension was opened. Extension of the runway was completed in October 2008, and the airport is now able to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A340, Boeing 747, 757, 767 and 777. Another terminal extension is under construction {{As of|2014|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riga-airport.com/lv/main/zinas/medijiem/preses-relizes-2014/lidosta-riga-svinigi-atklaj-jaunas-piestatnes-ekas-buvniecibas-saksanu|title=Lidostā "Rīga" svinīgi atklāj jaunās piestātnes ēkas būvniecības sākšanu|publisher=Starptautiskā lidosta "Rīga"|language=lv|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209065412/http://www.riga-airport.com/lv/main/zinas/medijiem/preses-relizes-2014/lidosta-riga-svinigi-atklaj-jaunas-piestatnes-ekas-buvniecibas-saksanu|archive-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> The annual number of passengers has grown from 310,000 in 1993 to 4.7&nbsp;million in 2014, making Riga International Airport the largest in the Baltic States. A new multi-modal hub is planned around the airport with a [[Rail Baltica]] station and airport city development planned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Riga Airport: Investments in future development and competitiveness |url=https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/174375/riga-airport-investments-in-future-development-and-competitiveness/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=International Airport Review |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellichipuram |first=Umesh |date=2022-02-10 |title=Riga Airport announces medium-term development plan |url=https://www.airport-technology.com/news/riga-airport-medium-term-development-plan/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Airport Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>

The former international airport of Riga, [[Spilve Airport]], located {{cvt|5|km|0}} from Riga city centre, is used for small aircraft, pilot training and recreational aviation. Riga was also home to a military air base during the [[Cold War]]—[[Rumbula Air Base]].

Public transport in the city is provided by [[Rīgas Satiksme]] which operates a large number of trams, buses and [[trolleybus]]es on an extensive network of routes across the city. In addition, up until 2012 many private owners operated [[minibus]] services, after which the City Council established the unified transport company ''Rīgas mikroautobusu satiksme'', establishing a monopoly over the service.

[[Riga International Coach Terminal]] provides domestic and international connections by [[Coach (bus)|coach]].

As the population of Riga city started to approach 1&nbsp;million people in the 1980s, the city became eligible (under the Soviet standards of the time) for the construction of a subway system [[Riga Metro]], which would have been paid for by the Soviet government. However, the population decline and shortage of funding following Latvian independence put an end to this plan.

Riga is connected to the rest of Latvia by [[Latvian Railways#Domestic routes|domestic trains]] operated by the national carrier [[Pasažieru vilciens|Passenger Train]], whose headquarters are in Riga. The main railway station is the [[Riga Central Station]]. It has stops for public transport along the streets Satekles iela, 13. janvāra iela Marijas iela, and Merķeļa iela. There are also [[Latvian Railways#International routes|international rail services]] to Russia and [[Belarus]], and plans to revive passenger rail traffic with [[Estonia]]. International overnight service is with Latvia Express trains ({{langx|lv|Latvijas Ekspresis}}). A [[TEN-T]] project called [[Rail Baltica]] envisages building a [[high-speed rail]]way line via Riga connecting [[Tallinn]] to [[Warsaw]] using [[standard gauge]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-policy/linking_en.htm|title=The trans-European transport network policy connecting East and West|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123121057/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-policy/linking_en.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> expected to be put into operation in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sam.gov.lv/images/modules/items/DOC/item_4941_Rail_Baltica_II_Joint_venture_ENG_28.10.2014.doc|title=The Rail Baltica II Joint venture of the Baltic States is established|publisher=Republic of Latvia Ministry of Transport|date=28 October 2014|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404101654/http://www.sam.gov.lv/images/modules/items/DOC/item_4941_Rail_Baltica_II_Joint_venture_ENG_28.10.2014.doc|archive-date=4 April 2015}}</ref> [[Latvian Railways]] ({{langx|lv|Latvijas dzelzceļš}} or ''LDz'') operates the Latvian Rail History Museum in Riga.