Work has been completed on the new public parking facility near Durrës Train Station, a modern public investment that combines parking with new community services, and is set to become an important multimodal hub for the city.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Mayor of Durrës, Emiriana Sako, inspected the facility today. The building is now fully operational and has been open to the public since the end of December.
The facility provides 353 parking spaces for vehicles, dedicated bicycle parking, and additional multifunctional areas intended to serve students, young entrepreneurs, and social and cultural activities. It is equipped with photovoltaic panels, contributing to energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources.
Mayor Emiriana Sako underlined that the building is not simply a parking structure, but a multifunctional centre offering office spaces for innovative companies and young people working in technology and app development, as well as areas used by the University of Durrës. She also noted that the building is designed as an accessible ramp across all levels, includes recreational space on the rooftop, and features fully automated parking systems with 24-hour access.
“The parking building, or the multimodal hub of the Durrës facility, was opened at the end of December. It accommodates around 353 parked vehicles, as well as space for bicycles. We also have office premises, which will function as a centre where different innovative companies, and young people working on applications and innovation, can be based and use it as their headquarters. There are also areas used by the University of Durrës. In addition, the facility is equipped with photovoltaic panels, which will contribute to energy efficiency. The entire structure functions as a ramp, meaning all seven floors can be accessed on foot along its full height. It has been designed by the architect as a rising ramp, which also serves as the parking structure itself. At the top, we also have a recreational area and a bar, which is already open,” Mayor Sako explained.
Due to its strategic location near the train station, the Port of Durrës, and major infrastructure projects currently under development, the facility is considered a key multimodal hub that is expected to significantly ease urban mobility. At the same time, the Municipality of Durrës is working to identify other city areas that require additional parking capacity, as well as to introduce dedicated subscription packages for local residents.
“There will also be packages for residents living nearby. They will be able to pay a monthly subscription, not only hourly parking. It will be hourly for visitors who leave their vehicle for a shorter period, but there will also be packages for residents who want to leave their cars here, because security is maximal and monitored by cameras 24 hours a day,” Mayor Sako said.
The Executive Director of the Albanian Development Fund, Dritan Agolli, noted that the centre is also intended to function as a practical innovation lab, providing space for start-ups and cooperation with the University of Durrës. Within this collaboration, young people have been involved through internships, including the development of digital applications for parking management.
During the inspection, Prime Minister Rama also visited the areas dedicated to young people, stressing the importance of creating public spaces that encourage innovation, creativity, and cooperation between institutions and emerging enterprises.
“This is a space for you and for everyone around you, in school and at university, who can come here to work on innovation,” the Prime Minister said.
The investment in the public parking facility near the Train Station represents an important step towards modernising urban infrastructure in Durrës, improving services for citizens, and supporting the city’s sustainable development.
