Zurich plans next-generation mobility
With an investment volume of around CHF 1.2 billion and almost 350 measures, the canton of Zurich is sending a strong signal for the future. The fifth-generation agglomeration programmes are intended to strengthen mobility, improve quality of life and better coordinate the development of settlements and transport, in close partnership with municipalities, regions and the federal government.
The Government Council of the Canton of Zurich has approved the new fifth-generation agglomeration programmes. They are a key instrument for supporting the rapid growth of cities and municipalities with an efficient, sustainable and future-oriented transport infrastructure. The programmes make it possible to better coordinate settlement and transport development and create the conditions for the federal government to contribute between 30 and 50 percent of the investment costs.
The approximately 350 planned measures are spread across five agglomeration areas in which targeted work is being carried out to improve mobility. In the Zurich-Glattal region, the focus is on the expansion of transfer stations into efficient transport hubs and on the further development of the cycle network in accordance with the cantonal cycle plan and the city of Zurich’s cycle strategy. In the Winterthur region, public transport, walking and cycling services are to be strengthened in order to absorb the increasing volume of traffic in an urban-friendly manner. At the same time, the electrification of bus transport is being driven forward.
With the “Unterland-Furttal” programme, a joint contribution from the Zurich Unterland and Furttal planning regions is being submitted for the first time. The focus here is on designing road spaces in a way that is compatible with residential areas and improving the quality of life. In the Zurich Oberland, on the other hand, the aim is to improve accessibility to regional centres such as Uster, Wetzikon, Pfäffikon and Hinwil. Here too, roads are to be upgraded in a targeted manner, junctions strengthened and public transport electrified.
Particular attention is being paid to the Limmat Valley, where the canton of Zurich has submitted a comprehensive programme together with the canton of Aargau. The programme focuses on the further development of transfer points and the electrification of public bus transport. At the same time, over twenty measures are intended to facilitate the development of high-quality residential and open spaces.
Review with impact
Since the first submission in 2007, the canton of Zurich has achieved impressive results with its agglomeration programmes. Since then, the federal government has awarded contributions totalling over CHF 1.5 billion. This has not only enabled the realisation of major projects such as the Hardbrücke tram or the Limmattalbahn, but also numerous smaller measures to promote pedestrian and bicycle traffic and to upgrade street areas. The programmes are based on central cantonal planning principles, including the 2018 overall transport concept, the S-Bahn 2G concept, the bicycle network plan and the pedestrian transport action plan.
Shared responsibility for a mobile future
The AP5 programmes were developed in close consultation with municipalities, regions and other partners. The cantonal government has now officially adopted the programmes and assumed sponsorship. By submitting the programmes to the federal government, Zurich is sending a strong signal in favour of coordinated and sustainable spatial and transport planning – supported by a broad consensus and the will to actively shape change.