At the end of May, the Municipality of Budapest and the Municipality of Józsefváros agreed to relocate the bus terminus from the junction of Népszínház utca and József körút to Blaha Lujza tér by 2027, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of Józsefváros.

This will free up the junction and create an opportunity to transform the area into a more welcoming gateway to Népszínház utca and the surrounding neighbourhood. The Municipality of Józsefváros intends to convert the space into a pedestrian and cycling zone, but this is about much more than transport. Before any design work begins, we would like to hear from local residents, people who pass through the area, and everyone who uses the space. What should this new public square look like in the future?

Please complete our survey by 12 July 2026.

Why is change needed?

For decades, the junction at the beginning of Népszínház utca has been a recurring topic of discussion among local residents, public transport users, city leaders and visitors alike.

At their most recent meetings, both the Municipality of Budapest and the Municipality of Józsefváros approved an agreement under which Józsefváros will contribute HUF 100 million towards the relocation of the bus terminus and the associated changes to the bus network. The city will relocate the buses, while the district will redesign the newly available public space.

From an urban design and public space management perspective, the most beneficial solution would be to create a pedestrian and cycling zone alongside the tram terminus. This would make the area easier and more comfortable to move through, improve air quality and create a friendlier environment. A clearer, more open public space can also help reduce anti-social behaviour and improve the overall quality of everyday life.

The section of Népszínház utca closest to József körút currently faces a range of long-standing challenges. These include an overcrowded and poorly functioning bus terminus, frequent traffic congestion caused by traffic on the Nagykörút, noise and air pollution from idling bus engines, and a public environment that many perceive as neglected and unattractive.

According to a place-based perception survey carried out by RÉV8 in 2025, this part of Népszínház utca was identified as one of the least attractive and most problematic sections of the area by many respondents.

The survey:

The narrow pavements and poor condition of the public realm at the junction would remain problematic even without the bus terminus. While the tram terminus is a fixed feature of the area, the current level of through-traffic is not essential. In fact, because of congestion on József körút, even the relatively low volume of traffic using the junction experiences regular delays.

Today, traffic arriving from Népszínház utca either joins József körút towards Margit híd or continues along Rákóczi út towards the outer districts of the city.

Traffic counts carried out by RÉV8 show that vehicle volumes are relatively low.

According to transport modelling undertaken by BKK, the surrounding utca network – including Csokonai utca, Luther utca and Berzsenyi utca – would be capable of accommodating this traffic if the necessary traffic management changes are introduced.

How will transport change?

Following the transformation, public transport services will operate as follows:

• Bus routes 99 and 217E will follow a new route from Nagy Fuvaros utca via II. János Pál pápa tér and Luther utca before reaching Rákóczi út and Blaha Lujza tér.
• Route 99 will terminate and turn around at Blaha Lujza tér, similarly to the current operation of route 7E.
• A new bus stop will be created at II. János Pál pápa tér, providing a direct connection to Metro Line M4.
• At Blaha Lujza tér, passengers will board and alight at the stops used by the Route 7 bus family, making transfers easier and providing convenient access to the M2 metro and the Nagykörút tram services.
• Bus services will operate more reliably by avoiding congestion on József körút while continuing to serve Kiss József utca.

Car traffic in the area will also change:

• Vehicles will no longer be able to exit Népszínház utca directly onto József körút.
• The direction of traffic on Csokonai utca will be reversed, maintaining easy access to outbound traffic on Rákóczi út.
• Journeys towards Erzsébetváros and the northern districts of Pest will be routed via Luther utca.
• Changes will be required at the Rákóczi út end of Luther utca, allowing buses to turn left onto Rákóczi út while general traffic movements are reorganised accordingly.
• the Municipality of Józsefváros will also launch a public consultation on potential traffic-calming measures in Bérkocsis utca.

Cycling access will also improve significantly. At present, it is not possible to legally reach Népszínház utca directly from either the Nagykörút cycle lane or Blaha Lujza tér. Following the redesign, direct access for cyclists will be provided. The new layout will make walking and cycling through the area easier, quicker and safer.

Management and Maintenance

The success of a public space depends not only on its design, but also on how it is managed and maintained. Cleanliness, safety and day-to-day upkeep all play an important role in creating a place that people enjoy using.

Currently:

• Four CCTV cameras monitor the section between Blaha Lujza tér and Csokonai utca.
• The Municipality of Józsefváros has begun preparations to upgrade public lighting at the junction.
• The area is cleaned by the Municipality of Budapest, while district staff also remove litter twice daily.
• Due to the heavy volume of pedestrian traffic and of the narrow pavement, regular pavement washing is difficult to carry out effectively.

Once the buses have been relocated, responsibility for maintaining the area will return to the district, making management and upkeep significantly easier within a more coherent public space.

What Would You Like to See Here?

• Would you like more shade?
• More trees and planting?
• Better waiting areas for tram passengers?
• Improved accessibility?
• What functions would help make the space safe, welcoming and enjoyable to use?
• What do you think is unnecessary?
• How should the area be managed and maintained?

Before design work begins, we want to hear from the people who know the area best: local residents, workers, visitors and daily users. Their views will help shape the future of this important public space.

How Can You Take Part?

Over the past 18 months, RÉV8 has carried out a range of studies and preparatory work in the area, including plans for new utca trees and pedestrian crossings. Our goal is to ensure that future developments reflect the values, needs and aspirations of local people.

The survey is available at: jozsefvaros.hu/go/nepszinhaz_square

We welcome responses until midnight on 12 July 2026. The results will directly inform the design process.

You can also share your views in person at a public forum on: 24 June 2026, 6:00 pm
Népszínház utca 31. (former furniture store)

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/911448941955528

We look forward to hearing your ideas for the future of Népszínház Square.

Experience the future Népszínház square on 13 June

What would the entrance to Népszínház utca be like without a bus terminal, traffic congestion and through-traffic?

On 13 June, the Municipality of Józsefváros and RÉV8 invite everyone to experience this possibility through a one-day public space takeover event.

For a day, the area will belong to pedestrians, cyclists, games, community activities and public life.

Where the Buses Used to Be – Népszínház square

Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/cG4Z1FClu

If you have any questions, please contact us at: info@rev8.hu