On February 12, 2024, the redesign of Morillon-Sandrain will be discussed in the Köniz parliament. Monika Röthlisberger (Greens) comments on the project in an interview.
Monika Röthlisberger is a member of the Greens/Young Greens faction in the Köniz municipal parliament. – zVg
the essentials in brief
- The Morillon-Sandrain redesign will be discussed in the Köniz parliament on February 12th.
- The project would cost the municipality around 3.4 million francs.
- The Green parliamentary group is likely to approve the project, says Monika Röthlisberger.
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The Köniz municipal parliament will decide on the loan for the redevelopment of Morillon-Sandrain on February 12, 2024. After Matthias Müller (EVP) and Dominic Amacher (FDP), Monika Röthlisberger (Greens) now comments on the project to Nau.ch in an interview.
Nau.ch: Do you support the “Redesign Morillon-Sandrain” project?
Monika Röthlisberger: The Greens/Young Greens faction will probably approve the project. We welcome the fact that the new design of the street space will greatly reduce the current dividing effect of Sehaftenstrasse and that the future development of the Morillonmatte can be made more flexible. In addition, the section of road will be more attractive and significantly safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and the new pedestrian and cycle path will create a stair-free connection to public transport, which is also easy to use for people with walking difficulties.
The Köniz municipal parliament will decide on the redesign of Morillon-Sandrain on February 12th. – Canton Bern
The Greens regret that Bernmobil is still not planning bi-directional trams on line 9 and that a lot of land is therefore required for the operational turnaround loop.
“Bike guidance in the Sandrain node seems too complicated for us”
In addition, a direct connection to the Morillon mat should be provided at the tram stop. The bike guidance in the Sandrain node also seems too complicated and without much added value. We see potential for improvement here, which we have already explained as part of our participation.
Some unsealed areas are already planned in the project perimeter, but significantly more would be possible. For example, asphalting around the stops, the median strip and the footpath between Frischingweg and Sandrain tram stop could be dispensed with. For the Greens, it is crucial that improvements are made in these aspects as the project progresses.
Nau.ch: How do the costs of around 3.4 million francs fit into the budget of the municipality of Köniz?
Röthlisberger: It is shocking that around 2.7 million francs were under-budgeted in the financial planning. The Greens believe that the negative cost effects of the operating loop for one-way trams have been underestimated.
The local parliament meets in the horse stable. – Nau.ch / Ueli Hiltpold
Since the operational turnaround loop will be implemented anyway, regardless of whether the Köniz parliament approves the deal or not, the Greens believe it makes sense for improvements to the walking and cycling infrastructure to be implemented at the same time, some of which will be paid for by the municipality must.
“Greens expect comprehensive communication with residents”
Nau.ch: What restrictions must residents expect during the construction phase?
Röthlisberger: The traffic routing of pedestrians, bicycles and motorized private traffic will be very different during the construction phase, depending on the specific project phase. For the corresponding planning, specialized experts are used who begin planning the traffic routing for the various road users with the involvement of the population years before construction begins. The Greens expect the canton and municipality to provide comprehensive communication with residents in this regard.
Nau.ch: Critical voices say that the new mixed traffic threatens to cause traffic jams towards the city center. What’s true about this statement?
Röthlisberger: There is definitely no traffic jam for pedestrians and cyclists. And the simulations and model calculations carried out by those responsible for the project also show a different picture for motorized individual transport.
The newly planned traffic routing of the “Redesign Morillon-Sandrain” project. – Canton Bern
Nau.ch: What measures are planned to keep traffic flowing?
Röthlisberger: Using an intelligent traffic signal system that favors the tram, traffic will be able to be controlled better in the future. When traffic volumes are very high, you can rely on a certain transit time, even if traffic is slow.
Since bicycle connections are becoming significantly more attractive, it can also be assumed that some car drivers will switch to bicycles or e-bikes. This effect has also been observed on other routes in Köniz that have been made more attractive for bicycle traffic, such as Schwarzenburgstrasse and Könizstrasse.
Do you agree with the Morillon-Sandrain redesign?
39%
Yes, the project improves the street space.
1
Yes, the project improves the street space.
61%
No, I prefer the current solution.
2
No, I prefer the current solution.
Nau.ch: What happens after the parliamentary session on February 12th?
Röthlisberger: In this project, the municipality of Köniz is, so to speak, only the junior partner. Bernmobil and the canton are paying for most of the project. After the loan has been accepted in parliament, the construction project will be developed with the involvement of the participants.
About the person: Monika Röthlisberger (52) is a member of the Greens/Young Greens faction in the Köniz municipal parliament. The language technologist lives with her family in Liebefeld.
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2024-02-12 03:34:39
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