Neuchâtel Subsidizes Public Transport: Reduced Fares for Young People from 2026
Neuchâtel’s Grand Council has approved a pilot project to significantly subsidize public transport costs for residents under the age of 25, offering them access to two-thirds of the cost of an Onde Verte annual travel pass for a period of two years. The decision, reached Tuesday, comes in response to the invalidation of a previous initiative calling for fully free public transportation throughout the canton.
Under the new scheme, young people will effectively pay approximately 1 Swiss franc per day for unlimited travel within the canton, with the government covering the remaining 360 Swiss francs of the annual pass cost. This represents a 66% subsidy, according to reports from RTS.
The move follows years of debate and a series of compromises. An initial initiative launched in 2017 sought complete fare-free public transport for all citizens. Even as the federal government ultimately prohibited such a universal approach, a temporary commission continued to explore alternatives. The current pilot program is the result of those efforts, aiming to encourage greater use of public transport among young people and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
The initiative to support younger citizens aligns with broader trends in Switzerland. The canton of Geneva has already implemented measures including free travel for those up to 18, extended to 24 for those in education and a 50% discount for recipients of AVS/AI benefits. The Neuchâtel government cited the demand to foster sustainable habits and address growing inequalities as key drivers behind the decision.
While the approved measure is currently limited to two years, proponents are calling for continued mobilization to secure its long-term continuation and potential expansion to include other demographics. The Grand Council’s debate on Tuesday similarly encompassed broader discussions regarding transport policy and the future of public transport funding in the canton, as reported by ArcInfo.
The decision was made during a session of the Grand Council that also addressed issues of electronic voting and rising absenteeism in schools, according to reports. The council will continue to debate transport issues, with the current pilot program’s success likely to influence future policy decisions.