The Generalitat, Catalonia's regional government, and Barcelona City Council have agreed the funding split for the next phase of the tram connection along Avinguda Diagonal, with a total public investment of €196.4 million. The deal was approved on Monday 7 July by the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM), Barcelona's metropolitan transport authority, and matters because it fixes who will pay for the works between Verdaguer and Francesc Macià.

For residents, commuters and businesses along Diagonal, the agreement means the project has moved beyond political negotiation and into funded delivery. The remaining works are expected to bring the usual disruption linked to long street-level construction, especially around road space, bus stops and pedestrian routes, and the official channels to check project updates are the Barcelona City Council project page and the ATM tram connection updates, where route changes and construction notices are published.

How the €196.4 million bill will be shared

Under the agreement, Barcelona City Council will pay €98.2 million and the Generalitat will cover the other €98.2 million. The package covers both infrastructure works and associated costs needed to complete the connection of the two existing tram networks along Diagonal.

  • Total approved budget: €196.4 million
  • Barcelona City Council contribution: €98.2 million
  • Generalitat contribution: €98.2 million
  • Section covered by the new phase: Verdaguer to Francesc Macià

The city had already granted final approval for the construction project earlier this year. According to Barcelona City Council, the works cover a 4.1-kilometre stretch of Avinguda Diagonal and include six new stops, cycle lanes, widened pedestrian areas and changes to traffic layout.

Next phase follows the Glòries to Verdaguer extension

The funding deal comes after the first phase of the Diagonal connection, the Trambesòs extension from Glòries to Verdaguer, entered service in November 2024. That earlier section was presented by the ATM as the first stage of the full tram link across central Barcelona.

The outstanding stretch is the one that would connect Verdaguer with Francesc Macià, joining the Trambesòs and Trambaix systems through the city centre. Supporters of the scheme argue it will improve direct public transport across the avenue, while critics have questioned costs and the effect on traffic.

Barcelona City Council said the approval completed the administrative processing needed for the tram connection project on Avinguda Diagonal.

With the financing now agreed, the project has its clearest institutional backing to date. People living or travelling near Verdaguer, Passeig de Sant Joan, Diagonal and Francesc Macià will need to watch the City Council and ATM notices for exact works calendars, temporary stop relocations and alternative public transport arrangements as the next stage is scheduled.

Primary sources: Barcelona City Council. Reported by Alfonso L. Congostrina, EFE, Clara Blanchar, Gerard Pruna, atm.cat, Janet Gambini, viaempresa.cat, Rubén Pacheco, Diari Catalunya.