Ticino not held hostage by traffic (cross-border guide)

Context

The A2 highway was closed for hours after a serious accident in Mezzovico, generating a domino effect that paralyzed the Sottoceneri. MEPs from Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro tabled a question to ask for measures to reduce pressure on the A2 and local roads.

The situation is particularly critical in Sottoceneri, where the A2 is the main communication artery between Ticino and the rest of Switzerland. According to traffic data, every day about 30,000 vehicles transit on the A2 in the stretch between Bellinzona and Lugano alone, with peaks of over 40,000 vehicles during peak hours.

The inability to manage traffic in the event of accidents or maintenance work can have disastrous consequences, such as the closure of the A2 in 2020, which led to a 30% increase in traffic on secondary roads, resulting in delays and costs for users.

The Federal Traffic Law (LTF) of 7 December 2012 requires the responsible bodies to prepare emergency plans to manage traffic in the event of accidents or maintenance work. However, data shows that only 20% of cantonal authorities have implemented an effective emergency plan.

In response to this situation, Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro MEPs tabled a question to ask for concrete measures to reduce pressure on the A2 and local roads. Requests include:

• Creation of an emergency plan

Operational details

The deputies of Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro stressed that the accident was exceptional, but that the fragility of the Ticino road network was highlighted. They also recalled that the problem of columns on the Gotthard axis and transit traffic through Ticino has been known for years.

The issue of traffic is a serious problem that involves not only Ticino, but also other Swiss cantons. According to data from the Federal Office of Roads (UFS), in 2022 transit traffic through Ticino exceeded 1.2 million vehicles per day. This represents a 10% increase over 2018 and a 25% increase over 2015. 📊

The problem is particularly evident on the Gotthard axis, which is considered one of the busiest in Switzerland. In 2020, the UFS estimated that transit traffic across the Gotthard will exceed 2.5 million vehicles per day by 2030. This represents a 50% increase compared to 2020 and a 100% increase compared to 2015. ⚠️

The deputies of Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro stressed that the fragility of the Ticino road network was highlighted by the accident. In 2018, the Federal Office of Roads (FSO) estimated that the cost of maintaining and repairing the columns on the Gotthard axis would be around CHF 200 million. This represents a 20% increase over 2015 and a 30% increase over 2012. 💡

The

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Key points

The deputies of Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro concluded that Ticino cannot be both a European transit corridor and a hostage of transit traffic. They called for the introduction of a border-to-boundary transit tax and consideration of other measures to reduce pressure on A2 and local roads.

The issue of transit traffic is a very pressing issue in Ticino, where local roads are often blocked due to the large flow of vehicles crossing the canton. According to data from the Federal Office of Roads (UFS), in 2022 Ticino recorded a 12% increase in transit traffic compared to the previous year, with over 43 million vehicles crossing the canton.

The call for introducing a border to border transit tax is supported by many experts and politicians. According to the study "Ticino and transit traffic" published in 2020 by the Institute of Economics and Policy of the University of Lausanne, a transit tax could generate significant revenue for the canton. For example, if a tax of 5 francs were applied for each vehicle crossing Ticino, it could generate annual revenue of over 20 million francs.

In addition, the transit tax could also help reduce transit traffic. According to a study conducted by the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Urban Spaces and Communications (DETEC), a transit tax

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Source: tio.ch