Federal vote on the rehabilitation of the Gotthard road tunnel

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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.

Results by canton
  • Yes (18 6/2 stands)
  • No (2 stands)
  • Canton
    Yes No Yes (%) No (%) Participation
    (%)
    Kanton AargauKanton Aargau Aargau 179'232 84,407 68.0 32.0 64.3
    Canton of Appenzell AusserrhodenCanton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden Appenzell Ausserrhoden 13,021 12,421 51.2 48.8 66.6
    Canton of Appenzell InnerrhodenCanton of Appenzell Innerrhoden Appenzell Innerrhoden 3,623 3,106 53.8 46.2 59.6
    Canton of Basel-CountryCanton of Basel-Country Basel-Country 71,069 45,071 61.2 38.8 63.4
    Canton of Basel-StadtCanton of Basel-Stadt Basel city 37,934 35,644 51.6 48.4 66.6
    Canton BernCanton Bern Bern 254,332 186,601 57.7 42.3 65.9
    Canton of FriborgCanton of Friborg Freiburg 67'233 54,203 55.4 44.6 63.6
    Canton of GenevaCanton of Geneva Geneva 60,409 73,116 45.2 54.8 55.4
    Canton of GlarusCanton of Glarus Glarus 8,969 5,993 59.9 40.1 57.9
    canton of Grisonscanton of Grisons Grisons 49,330 32,666 60.2 39.8 61.0
    Canton of JuraCanton of Jura law 14'052 13,953 50.2 49.8 55.3
    Canton lucerneCanton lucerne Lucerne 111,406 70,011 61.4 38.6 68.0
    Canton of NeuchâtelCanton of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel 31'263 30'506 50.6 49.4 57.6
    Canton of NidwaldenCanton of Nidwalden Nidwalden 14'026 8,191 63.1 36.9 73.6
    Canton of ObwaldenCanton of Obwalden Obwalden 12,126 6,390 65.5 34.5 72.5
    Canton of SchaffhausenCanton of Schaffhausen Schaffhausen 19,831 17,564 53.0 47.0 75.8
    Canton of SchwyzCanton of Schwyz Schwyz 47,684 22,263 68.2 31.8 68.9
    Canton of SolothurnCanton of Solothurn Solothurn 73,857 39'263 65.3 34.7 64.1
    Canton of St. GallenCanton of St. Gallen St. Gallen 109,503 85,790 56.1 43.9 62.5
    Canton of TicinoCanton of Ticino Ticino 85'157 62,258 57.8 42.2 68.0
    Canton of ThurgauCanton of Thurgau Thurgau 55,968 42,208 57.0 43.0 59.7
    Canton of UriCanton of Uri Uri 10,170 9,017 53.0 47.0 73.3
    Canton of VaudCanton of Vaud Vaud 117,681 140,830 45.5 54.5 58.5
    Canton of ValaisCanton of Valais Valais 75,523 57,912 56.6 43.4 63.3
    Canton of ZugCanton of Zug train 32,911 19'090 63.3 36.7 69.9
    Canton ZurichCanton Zurich Zurich 327,421 262,007 55.5 44.5 65.9
    Federal coat of arms Swiss Confederation 1,883,741 1,420,481 57.0 43.0 62.3

    Web links

    Individual evidence

    1. Federal Roads Office FEDRO: Rehabilitation of the Gotthard road tunnel: Federal Council presents basic report ; Report of December 17, 2010
    2. Geneva and Vaud are the only ones to reject the second tube in 20 minutes from February 28, 2016
    3. Preliminary official final results In: Federal Chancellery website . Retrieved March 5, 2016.