On June 18, Lviv hosted the signing of the first grant agreement in Ukraine between the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Lviv City Council. Under the agreement, Lviv will receive €5 million to implement the first phase of a tram line project to the UNBROKEN rehabilitation center.
The grant funds will be allocated for the reconstruction of a section of Mykolaychuka Street — from Mazepa Street to the intersection with Shchurata and Orlyka Streets. The works will include the construction of four traffic lanes (two for public transport and two for private vehicles), a service entrance to the hospital, a two-way bicycle path on the side of the medical facility, and barrier-free sidewalks. The foundation for a future tram track will also be laid. This will improve access to the UNBROKEN rehabilitation center, St. Panteleimon Hospital, and generally enhance convenience for residents of the Shevchenkivskyi district.
The agreement was signed by Lviv City Mayor Andrii Sadovyy, AFD CEO Rémy Rioux, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Gaël Veyssière.
The tram line project includes five stages:
- Stage 1 – reconstruction of Mykolaychuk Street from Mazepa Street to the intersection with Shchurata-Orlyka Streets;
- Stage 2 – construction of a pedestrian bridge in this area to connect the residential area with the hospital;
- Stages 3 and 4 – laying and connecting tram infrastructure from Horodnytska Street to the hospital area;
- Stage 5 – laying of a tram track from the hospital to social housing on Mykolaychuk Street.
The total length of the new tram line will be 2.6 km one way. A turning loop and temporary final stop will be arranged at the intersection of Mykolaychuka, Orlyka, and Shchurata Streets.
“During wartime, implementing such important projects is often impossible. But the spirit of Lviv, like that of Ukraine, is about making the impossible possible. Today, we understand our great responsibility not only to the residents of Lviv and Ukraine, but also to our Western partners. The support we receive obliges us to work harder and be better. It also allows us to reserve significant resources for supporting the Armed Forces. I want to once again thank France and its government for this unprecedented assistance to our country,” – said Lviv City Mayor Andrii Sadovyy.
“This grant agreement is the result of over a year of diligent, systematic work. Exactly a year ago, the AFD office opened in Kyiv, and shortly after we held our first joint online meeting with AFD, the EBRD, and the Lviv City Council team. That meeting marked the beginning of a new long-term cooperation. Over the past year, we held dozens of meetings and prepared numerous resolutions, protocols, and technical decisions — all in close coordination with colleagues from various departments, units, and municipal enterprises. It was a true team effort, and I thank everyone who contributed. The €5 million grant agreement with AFD is the first of its kind in Ukraine and lays the foundation for the tram line project to the UNBROKEN rehabilitation ecosystem. And accessibility — is always about dignity. We are grateful to our French partners for their trust and contribution to the European future of Lviv,” – said Andriy Pavliv, Head of the Investment and Projects Office of the Department for Economic Development of the Lviv City Council.
The street reconstruction project is expected to undergo technical expertise soon, with the first stage of work scheduled to begin around October–November this year.
AFD CEO Rémy Rioux expressed hope that the agency will remain a partner for Lviv in the next phases of the project: “This project and our involvement in it are a sign of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine. We are contributing to the first phase, but I hope we will also be partners in the future stages of this large-scale project.”
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Gaël Veyssière emphasized that France aims to support Ukraine through tangible actions. This is the first project in Ukraine financed by AFD in Lviv.
