The counter-project, a realistic and appropriate
solution

The counter-project, a realistic and appropriate
solution

With a legally compliant and judiciously distributed parking offer, the counter-project can be implemented without difficulty and will be able to evolve in the future.

  • It can be built quickly, as it meets legal requirements and needs, with a capacity of 800 places, defined by an independent appraisal supervised by the cantonal authorities and in line with jurisprudence. This downtown offer will be combined with improvements to public transport and safe, pleasant pedestrian and cycle routes. This will reduce the need for car travel, improve traffic flow and enhance city life.
  • It is economically advantageous for the town and can be financed by it. The vast majority of spaces are above-ground or in buildings, and cost much less than underground spaces, which are twice as expensive. This also enables the commune to continue to receive the revenues.
  • It avoids the dangerous privatization of parking and parking pricing, which would lead to a significant increase in parking charges and a complete loss of control over parking and mobility.
  • It allows us to adapt to changing demand, as spaces in buildings can easily be converted to other functions, which is not the case with an underground parking lot. Surface parking spaces may be adapted in number, relocated or adapted for other purposes to improve public space.

The initiative, a
dead end and nonsense

With an oversized offering totally concentrated in a single gigantic structure, the initiative is heading for disaster.

  • The project will be hampered by blockades and appeals because it is illegal. Its oversizing in relation to legal requirements will lead to lengthy and unsuccessful procedures, both with the cantonal authorities and the courts. A lot of time and money wasted.
  • It ruins municipal finances. Contrary to the rhetoric of the initiative committee, private construction of the underground parking lot will not preserve the commune’s finances: the agreement signed in 2018 imposes 17 million in charges on the commune and deprives it of parking revenues for 70 years. The majority report of the town council puts the total cost to our community at around 140 million! It’s obviously not a good deal.
  • It imposes a dangerous privatization and concentration of parking, which will bring all the traffic right into the center of town, on the Rue des Remparts, which we want to pacify. In addition, it will require the removal of all surface parking spaces in the city center1. This means no more parking on rue de la Plaine, behind the Château or at the Casernes! This will be the death of our downtown shops, restaurants and services. What’s more, the concentration of all parking facilities in a single underground parking lot presents a major risk in the event of an accident, fire or flood.

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