The surcharge for the night network in the Zurich Transport Association (ZVV) will be abolished. This was decided by the cantonal council on Monday when defining the ZVV strategy for the years 2022 to 2025.
With its decision, Parliament followed the government’s request. The abolition of the “Nachtfünflibers” was largely undisputed, only the GLP resisted it. Eliminating the night surcharge would be the wrong signal in times of cost truth and mobility pricing, the green liberals said. All other parties agreed, however, that the night surcharge had once been a good thing, but is now out of date. The five-footed fliber was referred to as a “punitive tariff for young people” (SP), as “punitive measure for night owls” (Greens) or as a “fine trap” (FDP).
No more special offer
When introduced in 2003, the night network was intended as a special offer for the boys. As such, it should cover costs. This was ensured with the night surcharge. The perception has changed since then. The night network on weekends is an integral part of the 24-hour society in the greater Zurich area, the government argued. The offer has long been used by all age groups.
As a precaution, the SVP and FDP wanted to make a minority application to ensure that the cost recovery rate of the ZVV not get worse with the abolition of the surcharge. These concerns are unfounded, councilor Carmen Walker Späh (FDP) countered: Compared to day-to-day business, the night network is so small a niche offer that the abolition of the surcharge does not matter.
In the end, the decision to delete the night five-year-old was decided without any ifs and buts. However, the decision can probably not be implemented until the end of 2022. The reason are multi-year contracts between the ZVV and other transport associations, which cannot be terminated immediately. As soon as the timetable change in December 2021, a new night network concept was implemented. The night network is redesigned, optimized and condensed every half hour between Zurich and Winterthur.
The main thrust remains
The main thrust of the ZVV strategy was not touched upon in the biennial debate. The overall goals remain unchanged. It is a “clear forward strategy,” said the President of the Advisory Commission, Alex Gantner (FDP, Maur), which current developments take into account. This included digitization, new mobility services and the environment.
In general, the strategy received approval from left to right in parliament. The SP was satisfied that the ZVV was obliged to behave in a manner that corresponded to a public service.
The strategy was updated at important points, the FDP praised. This includes that public transport in the canton of Zurich should not only be energy-efficient but also climate-friendly. Left-Green also prevailed with the requirement that noise protection must also be taken into account in the bus network in the future.
Finally, the Zurich public transport strategy for the years 2022 to 2025 was unanimously approved. The framework credit of the Zurich Transport Association for the current timetable period was also unanimously approved. It amounts to CHF 684.3 million for 2020 and 2021. (SDA)
Created: 02/10/2020, 02:16 PM
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