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. ### Benefits for cross-border commuters - Economic savings: A commuter from Como (IT) traveling 60 km daily with a companion saves approx. 65 CHF/month in fuel (calculation: 30 CHF/WEEK for single-vehicle fuel vs. 15 CHF for shared rides, excluding parking). The reduced parking cost (10 CHF/DAY vs. standard 20 CHF) adds another 100 CHF/month saving. - Environmental traceability: The platform quantifies saved kilometers (e.g., 1,200 km/YEAR for a cross-border commuter carpooling three times a week) and CO₂ reduction, with monthly reports sent via email. ### What happens after the pilot phase The project, launched in collaboration with the Ticino Canton Mobility Office (law 12/2022 on sustainable mobility), will be evaluated by June 2025. If data exceeds the target of 500 shared trips/month, the initiative could expand to communes like Mendrisio or Caslano, introducing tax incentives (e.g., 15% deduction from vehicle tax for certified carpoolers). ### Operational checklist for cross-border commuters - ✅ Ensure the vehicle is registered on BePooler with up-to-date license plate and insurance details. - ✅ Book the parking spot by 10:00 PM the previous day. - ✅ Share the journey with at least one other registered user. - ✅ Download the monthly certificate to claim tax benefits (if available). ### Comparison of practical scenarios | Scenario | Monthly cost (fuel + parking) | CO₂ emitted (kg) | |------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Solo journey (60 km/day) | 240 CHF | 96 kg | | Carpooling (same route) | 120 CHF + 50 CHF (reduced parking) | 48 kg | > "42% of cross-border commuters in Ticino are interested in carpooling solutions, but only 12% use them regularly," emphasizes the director of the Mobility Office. CTA: Use our commuter cost calculator to compare expenses between solo and carpooling journeys, including parameters like distance, number of passengers, and fuel cost (e.g., 1.85 CHF/liter in January 2024).