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The Federal Council has decided on further measures to combat alternative traffic along motorways in the Alpine region. To protect the affected communities, dosing systems should be used at village entrances. How this is received in the region.
To avoid the traffic jam at the Gotthard, many travelers switch to the cantonal road.
Much to the annoyance of the local population: “When the Gotthard Pass is open again, the cantonal road will be full again,” says the mayor of Gurtnellen, Verena Tresch-Arnold.
Dosing system is not enough for affected communities
The canton of Uri has taken measures to counter the expansion of alternative traffic. These proved effective last year during the Ascension and Pentecost and have been in effect again since March 20, 2024.
Center National Councilor Simon Stadler says these cantonal measures are not enough. The Uri politician has submitted a postulate with further ideas for reducing traffic. Among other things, he is demanding a toll for travel on particularly busy days and an online time slot ticket for tunnel passage.
The Federal Council has written a response in collaboration with the Federal Roads Office (Astra). In this, the state government follows the two ideas of the Uri National Council.
The Federal Council has clearly rejected imposing a toll on an entire canton, a part of the country and a part of culture.
Astra director Jürg Röthlisberger says: “For tickets we need large parking spaces to organize people, we all know that from the ferry companies. That’s not expedient and we don’t have the space. The Federal Council clearly rejected the idea of imposing a toll on an entire canton, a part of the country and a part of culture.”
According to the Federal Council, the introduction of a user fee for the Alpine crossings would have a positive impact on the traffic situation. However, the toll would mean that the canton of Ticino would only be connected to the rest of the country via toll, year-round road connections. For reasons of national cohesion, this is not appropriate.
In addition, the introduction of such a fee would amount to a departure from the principle of free use of public roads enshrined in the Federal Constitution and would require a constitutional change.
Federal Council wants to protect villages from traffic
However, the Federal Council has decided on further measures to combat alternative traffic along motorways in the Alpine region. He will have temporary connection closures on the A2 heading south analyzed and tested in more detail.
The Federal Council also believes that cantonal roads should also be adapted to protect villages along busy motorways. This can be done, for example, with dosing systems in front of the village entrances.
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The Federal Council has examined more than 80 new measures to curb alternative traffic along the A2 and A13 for their appropriateness and feasibility. The reason for this was a decision by the National Council at the end of 2022.
Keystone / Urs Flueeler
Part of the solution could be a traffic light system in front of affected villages. According to the Federal Council, such traffic lights at the entrance to the village are intended to calm traffic in the village and also make the route via the cantonal road less attractive for travelers. The navigation systems should recognize the traffic lights. This is intended to ensure that the traffic jam at least stays on the highway.
Uri National Councilor Simon Stadler is pleased about this: “It makes sense to manage the exits correctly.” If there were good traffic management measures in digital form, he would certainly support them, says Stadler.
The Federal Council report launched the discussion about solutions to the traffic problem on the Gotthard. However, the current measures must be sufficient for travelers who are traveling on Ascension Day or Pentecost.