Initiative Zurich City Council rejects a blanket reduction in the price of streetcar travelcards
Zurich City Council rejects the popular initiative "VBZ travelcard for CHF 365". The requested flat-rate discount is inappropriate and disproportionate. However, it wants to make public transport more affordable for low-income Zurich residents.
25.06.2024, 11:34
25.06.2024, 12:04
SDA
The city council is submitting a counter-proposal to the initiative to the municipal council, as announced on Tuesday. This provides for earmarked contributions to reduce the price of monthly and annual travelcards in Zurich's Zone 110.
The amount of the contributions would be graduated according to income. Adults could receive up to 55 percent of the travelcard costs, children up to 70 percent.
The popular initiative with its flat-rate per capita reduction would cost the city a total of around 140 million francs, according to the press release. The counter-proposal would entail annual costs of CHF 35.5 million, depending on the group of beneficiaries.
According to Head of Social Affairs Raphael Golta (SP), however, it was not only the costs that prompted the city council to make the counter-proposal: Zurich is an expensive city and the cost of living is high. "This is felt particularly keenly by low-income Zurich residents." Access to mobility should be made easier for them.
Counter-proposal does not go far enough for the SP
The city's popular initiative "VBZ annual season ticket for CHF 365" was submitted by the SP and Umverkehr. Their aim is to promote public transport and ease the financial burden on the population.
The city council's counter-proposal does not go far enough for the SP, as the party announced on Tuesday. It would not effectively help the middle classes - it is no longer just the people with the lowest incomes who are under pressure from rising ticket prices.
In addition, a CHF 365 travelcard is also necessary in terms of climate policy, the SP continues. "The current price trend discourages commuters and leisure travelers from switching to public transport."
An annual season ticket from the Zurich Transport Association (ZVV) for city zone 110 currently costs CHF 809. Next, the municipal council will decide on the city council's proposal on the initiative and the counter-proposal.
