Salzburg: Salzburg initiative “Stop U-Bahn” calls for protest: “Costs have quintupled”
The costs for the planned Salzburg subway construction have exploded, as shown by new calculations by the city. The “Stop U-Bahn” initiative had already warned of such a cost explosion in the past. Now the initiators feel compelled to actively protest. And even the Deputy Mayor of Salzburg, Bernhard Auinger, makes it clear that the project is currently not financially viable for the city.
Salzburg – 650 million euros, that’s how much was planned for the subway construction from the main station via Mirabellplatz to Hallein, that was in 2018. Now, five years later, the costs have literally exploded without another meter being built. Depending on where the subway goes above ground again, the estimated costs already range from 2 billion euros (subway to Akadamiestraße, then above ground) to 3 billion euros (subway to Salzburg-Süd). Salzburg’s Deputy Mayor Bernhard Auinger speaks of a “grave of billions” that the city cannot afford, “the project cannot be financed by the city according to the current status”. Wilfried Rogler from the “Stop U-Bahn” initiative also doubts the numbers that have now been published, “because nobody knows the route and there are still no results from the soil investigations on the very difficult Seeton subsoil”.
The underground extension of the local railway from the main station to Mirabellplatz and then further along Akademiestraße in the direction of Salzburg-Süd will cost between two and three billion euros according to the cost estimate now presented, which is significantly higher than previously estimated. For the city of Salzburg, with the current cost allocation (50 percent federal, 50 percent shared by city and state) over 20 years, annual costs of around 35 million euros would be incurred for just one single project. “Many other projects in the areas of housing, childcare, schools, care and urban infrastructure would not only be endangered by this, but would also be impossible to implement in reality,” warns a skeptical Auinger from the start. You will therefore have to negotiate again about the funding key of the federal, state and local governments in order to be able to make a responsible decision for future generations. “City, state and federal government cannot afford a billion-dollar grave through the construction of the subway”.
Also higher costs for mini subway to Mirabellplatz?
Wilfried Rogler from the “Stop U-Bahn” initiative, who had already warned of rising costs as with all comparable tunnel projects in May of last year, also feels confirmed by the new cost calculations. “The costs have exploded and have quickly quintupled within five months, which even exceeds the cost explosion for the second regular route in Munich”. First there was talk of 600 million euros, then of 700 million euros, now a man is at around 3 billion euros if the subway is to be built underground to Salzburg-Süd with then nine stops. Even the first 850 meters from the main train station to Mirabellplatz would not cost 200 million euros, but rather 300 million and more. “We are excited to see when a “cost correction” will be published for this mini route, which is now to be pushed through without an overall concept and without reliable traffic data,” says Rogler. The “Stop U-Bahn” initiative also questions the calculations presented now, because nobody knows the route to Salzburg-Süd and on to Hallein. “In addition, there are still no results on the very difficult sea clay subsoil up to the Akademiestraße”. Rogler expects that the construction will be much more expensive than the 2 to 3 billion euros that have now been published.
“Halte-U-Bahn” goes on the street
In the talks of the initiative, which includes the groups “Fairkehr” and “Liveable Flachgau”, nothing was achieved with planners and politicians, “that’s why we founded the STOP U-Bahn initiative and are now taking to the streets”. Since the beginning of the year, the population has been informed with flyers, “but we are a citizens’ initiative and our funds are very limited. We don’t have millions like the planners, by the way, all of our tax money.”
Tram instead of subway
The initiative calls for clear traffic concepts “before billions are thrown out the window for a questionable subway”. The existing transport infrastructure was expanded and expanded, currently the opposite is the case, “for example, the trolleybus WILL be broken, extended for intervals”. The cycle paths in the city are also desolate, “a ridiculous budget of just 2 million euros is available for the expansion”. The initiative wants less individual traffic in the city center, so there would also be room for a cheaper tram. Only a minority between Bürmoos and Hallein, which is already well developed, would benefit from the planned subway. “But the vast majority of commuters come from the direction of Mattsee, Mondsee, Fuschl / St. Gilgen or from the west such as Wals”, these commuters would get nothing. Rogler calls on the subway planner to examine alternatives, a tram variant would only cost around 10 percent of the subway variant, “but a powerful construction lobby is of course looking forward to billions in sales from subway construction “.
huh