Gotthard detour traffic fines
One wonders whether a Gotthard toll would be sensible; perhaps one could simply tax the detour traffic as in Basel.
Problem
- Local population is disturbed by through traffic.
- Ausweichverkehr mitten durch die Dörfer. Ist der Tunnel verstopft, drängt der Verkehr auf die Kantonsstrasse mitten durch die Urner Dörfer. Anwohner leiden unter Lärm und Abgasen und können sich im eigenen Dorf kaum mehr frei bewegen.
- Transit pays nothing towards the costs. On peak days, about 80 percent of the vehicles come from abroad. This through traffic uses roads and tunnels but does not contribute to maintenance, noise, and environmental costs.
- The bottleneck remains. Even with the second tunnel tube, the Gotthard remains single-track in each direction. The actual bottleneck and thus the backwater remain.
- Cantonal measures are not enough. The canton of Uri already blocks highway entrances during traffic jams. Nevertheless, the public feels overwhelmed and demands more concrete measures such as temporary entry bans.
Solution
- Detour traffic buses on level exit and entrance.
- Revenue for shifting to rail. The proceeds from the fee are earmarked for shifting transit to rail, such as into rail services and car loading. In this way, transport finances its own environmentally friendly alternative.
- Expansion of the Gotthard capacity. Both tubes of the Strassentunnel will be two-lane each. This doubles the capacity and eliminates the bottleneck. To achieve this, the alpine protection article that currently limits the capacity will be adjusted.
- Temporary local protection for the villages. On traffic‑intensive days, passage bans apply on the affected village roads, with exceptions for residents, commuters, and authorized persons. The model is the proven regulation in Birsfelden.
- Fee based on weight and drive type. The fee rises with the vehicle’s weight and emissions. Heavy vehicles wear out the infrastructure more, combustion engines cause higher environmental costs. The model is the proven heavy traffic levy.
Benefit
- Less congestion through management. A demand‑based fee breaks the peaks and keeps traffic flowing. Even the prospect of high fees deters some from driving exactly during rush hour.
- Cause‑based financing. The predominantly foreign transit now shares the costs it generates. The local population, which today pays through taxes, will be relieved.
- Noticeable relief for the regions. Less traffic congestion and targeted passage bans reduce the pressure on the villages. People regain calm, safety, and freedom of movement in their own town.
- Contribution to alpine protection. Purpose‑bound revenues strengthen the rail network and thus the constitutionally anchored protection of the Alpine region against transit traffic.
- More capacity and more safety. An expansion eliminates bottlenecks and backflow.
Public support
Total votes: 2
Breakdown: FullyOnBoard: 1, SoundsGood: 1