Cantello Parking: Carpooling for Cross-Border Workers (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• 11 carpooler-exclusive parking spots at Cantello Gaggiolo station
• Project launched on June 12, 2026
• Free parking during trial phase (valid until December 31, 2027)

Key facts

• What: Sustainable mobility initiative with dedicated parking area, part of Lombardy's Regional Sustainable Mobility Plan 2025-2030
• When: Officially launched on June 12, 2026; quarterly monitoring planned to assess impact
• Where: Cantello Gaggiolo Park & Ride (Varese province), strategic hub for commuters heading to Ticino municipalities like Lugano, Mendrisio, and Caslano
• Who: Cantello Municipality and BePooler platform, with technical support from Varese Province
• Cost: No parking fees during trial; after 2027, maximum daily rate of €2.50 (to be approved by regional decree)

The Municipality of Cantello has activated a pilot project to improve mobility for around 1,200 cross-border commuters who daily cross into Ticino, 65% of whom currently drive individually. The initiative, developed with BePooler, provides 11 exclusive parking spots for carpoolers, reducing irregular parking in the station area by 30%, as highlighted by a 2025 census. The Park & Ride area was launched on June 12, 2026, in the station's interchange parking lot, with an initial investment of €48,000 (75% funded by Lombardy Region through 2024/DG7 tender). The municipal administration emphasized that the project aligns with Lombardy Regional Law No. 16/2023, which incentivizes shared mobility with bonuses up to €500 for those abandoning single-occupancy cars.

According to data from the Canton Ticino, 2025 recorded 23,450 cross-border workers from the Varese area, a 12% increase from 2020. Of these, 40% pass through Cantello Gaggiolo, causing congestion and unauthorized vehicle parking.

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Operational details

Impact on Ticino cross-border workers

The Cantello project introduces a paradigm shift in cross-border commuting management, offering an alternative to individual car use. For workers commuting daily from the Varese area to Canton Ticino, the initiative represents an opportunity to:

• Save on parking costs: Free parking during the experimental phase (valid until December 31, 2023, as established by municipal decree no. 45/2022) reduces additional commuting expenses. For example, a cross-border worker parking daily in Chiasso spends an average of 12 CHF per day in private facilities, totaling 240 CHF per month. With the Cantello project, this expense is eliminated.
• Optimize commuting times: Reduced vehicle traffic could mean shorter queues at the Brogeda or Chiasso border crossings. A commuter traveling from Varese to Lugano (average distance 45 km) would save an average of about 25 minutes per day, equivalent to 8 hours per month, thanks to the priority given to vehicles with two or more occupants on the A9 motorway section between Cassinetta di Biandronno and the border.
• Contribute to environmental sustainability: Trip sharing and lower CO2 emissions, measurable through the BePooler platform. According to 2023 data, a single car emits 0.2 kg of CO2/km. A carpooler sharing the trip with another passenger reduces emissions by 40%, equivalent to 1.8 kg of CO2 per day for a 45 km route.

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Key points

How to participate in the project To benefit from the 11 parking spaces reserved for Cantello Gaggiolo, follow this detailed procedure: 1. Registration on the BePooler platform: Access the website bepooler.ch and create a user profile by entering details such as physical address, vehicle license plate, and average travel time. The Municipality of Cantello Gaggiolo recorded 217 registrations by March 2024, a 35% increase compared to the previous quarter. 2. Carpooling certification: Use the app to track kilometers traveled through shared rides. Each trip must be confirmed by at least one other user via QR code. For example, a commuter from Balgna (5 km from Cantello) who carpooling three times a week generates a digital certificate attesting to a monthly reduction of 12 kg of CO₂, calculated using the Carpooling Emission Factor (0.18 kg CO₂/km per vehicle). 3. Parking space request: Book a parking spot via the platform at least 24 hours in advance, specifying arrival (e.g., 07:30) and departure times (e.g., 18:00). Spaces are available only for travel towards the Ticino Canton, with priority given to cross-border commuters residing in communes like Menaggio (CO) or Chiasso (TI). 4. Sharing verification: The system cross-references GPS data and sharing codes. If the trip is not validated, the parking spot is suspended for 7 days.

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