Federal vote on the rehabilitation of the Gotthard road tunnel
The federal vote on the rehabilitation of the Gotthard road tunnel was a Swiss referendum vote . On February 28, 2016, the sovereign decided with a yes share of 57% for the renovation of the tunnel by building a second tube.
background
At the beginning of August 2008, the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) announced that the Gotthard road tunnel would have to be completely renovated between 2020 and 2025. To do this, the tunnel must either be closed for 900 days in a row or for 3.5 years for 280 days at a time, with the tunnel being available for main tourist traffic between the end of June and mid-September.
Instead of partial closures, diversions or car loading, the Federal Council recommended the construction of a second tube in June 2012. The construction enables the first tube to be completely closed for the duration of the renovation. This variant is the best solution among the variants presented. The expansion would also increase the safety of the tunnel. The second tube is expected to be built between 2020 and 2027. With costs of around 2.8 billion Swiss francs , this solution is around one billion francs more expensive than a pure renovation. Even with two tubes in the future, only one lane per direction may be used because, according to Article 84 of the Federal Constitution, the road capacity in the Alpine region may not be increased. Any loosening of this provision and thus a constitutional amendment would be subject to a mandatory referendum.
In September 2014, the National Council and the Council of States passed a law that implemented the Federal Council's proposal. A referendum was called against this law. The change in the law and thus the construction of a second tube was adopted in the referendum on February 28, 2016 with a yes-vote of around 57%.
Voting question
Do you want to accept the amendment of September 26, 2014 to the Federal Law on Road Transit Traffic in the Alpine Region (STVG) (renovation of the Gotthard road tunnel)?
Voting text
Federal law on road transit traffic in the Alpine region (STVG) (renovation of the Gotthard road tunnel)
Amendment of 26 September 2014.
The Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation , after reviewing the Federal Council Dispatch of September 13, 2013, decides:
I
The federal law of June 17, 1994 on road transit traffic in the Alpine region is amended as follows:
Ingress
based on Article 84 of the Federal Constitution,
Art. 1 Subject
This law regulates the implementation of Article 84 Paragraph 3 of the Federal Constitution on transit route capacity in the Alpine region.
Art. 3a Gotthard road tunnel
1 A second tunnel tube can be built at the Gotthard road tunnel.
2 However, the capacity of the tunnel may not be expanded. Only one lane may be operated per tube; If only one tube is open to traffic, one lane can be operated in each direction in this tube.
3 A metering system must be set up for heavy traffic through the Gotthard road tunnel. The Federal Roads Office stipulates a minimum distance in the tunnel for heavy motor vehicles used to transport goods.
II
1 This law is subject to an optional referendum.
2 The Federal Council determines the entry into force.
Voting result
The proposal was accepted with a 57% yes vote.
Canton |
Yes | No | Yes (%) | No (%) | Participation (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aargau | 179'232 | 84,407 | 68.0 | 32.0 | 64.3 |
Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 13,021 | 12,421 | 51.2 | 48.8 | 66.6 |
Appenzell Innerrhoden | 3,623 | 3,106 | 53.8 | 46.2 | 59.6 |
Basel-Country | 71,069 | 45,071 | 61.2 | 38.8 | 63.4 |
Basel city | 37,934 | 35,644 | 51.6 | 48.4 | 66.6 |
Bern | 254,332 | 186,601 | 57.7 | 42.3 | 65.9 |
Freiburg | 67'233 | 54,203 | 55.4 | 44.6 | 63.6 |
Geneva | 60,409 | 73,116 | 45.2 | 54.8 | 55.4 |
Glarus | 8,969 | 5,993 | 59.9 | 40.1 | 57.9 |
Grisons | 49,330 | 32,666 | 60.2 | 39.8 | 61.0 |
law | 14'052 | 13,953 | 50.2 | 49.8 | 55.3 |
Lucerne | 111,406 | 70,011 | 61.4 | 38.6 | 68.0 |
Neuchâtel | 31'263 | 30'506 | 50.6 | 49.4 | 57.6 |
Nidwalden | 14'026 | 8,191 | 63.1 | 36.9 | 73.6 |
Obwalden | 12,126 | 6,390 | 65.5 | 34.5 | 72.5 |
Schaffhausen | 19,831 | 17,564 | 53.0 | 47.0 | 75.8 |
Schwyz | 47,684 | 22,263 | 68.2 | 31.8 | 68.9 |
Solothurn | 73,857 | 39'263 | 65.3 | 34.7 | 64.1 |
St. Gallen | 109,503 | 85,790 | 56.1 | 43.9 | 62.5 |
Ticino | 85'157 | 62,258 | 57.8 | 42.2 | 68.0 |
Thurgau | 55,968 | 42,208 | 57.0 | 43.0 | 59.7 |
Uri | 10,170 | 9,017 | 53.0 | 47.0 | 73.3 |
Vaud | 117,681 | 140,830 | 45.5 | 54.5 | 58.5 |
Valais | 75,523 | 57,912 | 56.6 | 43.4 | 63.3 |
train | 32,911 | 19'090 | 63.3 | 36.7 | 69.9 |
Zurich | 327,421 | 262,007 | 55.5 | 44.5 | 65.9 |
Swiss Confederation | 1,883,741 | 1,420,481 | 57.0 | 43.0 | 62.3 |
Web links
- Federal Chancellery website
- Explanations of the Federal Council (voting booklet ) PDF file
Individual evidence
- ↑ Federal Roads Office FEDRO: Rehabilitation of the Gotthard road tunnel: Federal Council presents basic report ; Report of December 17, 2010
- ↑ Geneva and Vaud are the only ones to reject the second tube in 20 minutes from February 28, 2016
- ↑ Preliminary official final results In: Federal Chancellery website . Retrieved March 5, 2016.