Cities are stepping on the brakes. In principle, a maximum speed of 30 km/h should apply on their streets – also on main roads, according to the requirements of the association of cities. Firstly, traffic noise causes damage to health and secondly, it hinders development in urban areas: “Many projects are blocked because of noise concerns”, said the liberal mayor of Frauenfeld Anders Stokholm (56) in the “NZZ am Sonntag”.
But it is precisely the urban SP federal councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (62) who pushes the city association’s foot off the brake pedal. Shortly before her departure, she relaxed the law on environmental protection, which should better align noise protection and settlement development.
And with that it deprives the cities of an important argument for Tempo 30, as “CH Media” reports. Because with the relaxations, the sound insulation rules for new construction are relaxed. This means that more could be built again without 30 km/h.
Back to «ventilation window practice»
Specifically, the Federal Council wants to write into law the “ventilation window practice”, which the Federal Supreme Court had declared inadmissible in 2016. Instead of all windows, the sound insulation limit should only be met in at least half of the rooms. As a result, housing projects are again eligible for approval if, for example, the bedrooms are located on the court side. Building in noisy areas should also be possible in the future without a special permit. Hundreds of apartments could be built in Zurich alone and put on hold, as the “NZZ” writes.
“The ventilation window practice would eliminate the noise problem and make many apartments eligible again for approval without a speed limit of 30,” says trade association director Hans-Ulrich Bigler (64) at “CH Media”.
Tempo 30 not off the table
However, a nationwide speed limit of 30 is not off the table. The cities will continue to fight back for the measure. Not only because there must be less noise for the residents of old buildings, but also because of road safety. “It is the most effective, cheapest and easiest to implement measure to enable cities to develop in terms of quality of life and prosperity and to ensure prosperity,” says Stokholm Association President. (Russian)