For more than ten years, discussions and plans have been underway to replace Stuttgart's 19th-century terminus station with a modern underground through-station. This win-win solution will speed up train traffic and, at the same time, free up valuable city space for green spaces and urban development. The project, named Stuttgart 21, was discussed in detail by experts, presented in public hearings, and quickly passed the state parliament in its final version, since the Federal Railway will bear the lion's share of the financing.
Only the Green Party was always against the project. Everything seemed clear and democratically approved, but when construction began, citizens opposing the project started public protests at the building site, hindering progress. A mediator failed in his attempt to arbitrate.
The situation became delicate for Baden-Württemberg's green-red state government, with the Social Democrats in favor and the Greens against Stuttgart 21. The only way to keep the coalition intact was to ask the people to decide in a referendum. Such a procedure is complicated to launch. Eventually, we were asked whether we agreed that the government would bail out of negotiations with the Federal Railway.
The situation became delicate for Baden-Württemberg's green-red state government, with the Social Democrats in favor and the Greens against Stuttgart 21. The only way to keep the coalition intact was to ask the people to decide in a referendum. Such a procedure is complicated to launch. Eventually, we were asked whether we agreed that the government would bail out of negotiations with the Federal Railway.
Estimated costs for abandoning Stuttgart 21, which the state of Baden-Württemberg would have to shoulder, range from only 350 million, according to the adversaries, to 1.5 billion, according to the project's supporters.
As you know from my previous blogs, I am a railway aficionado, preferring a six-hour train ride to a ninety-minute flight, like the other day from Freiburg to Berlin. I hate the stress of taking the bus to Basel airport and having to arrive too early. I detest the checks after check-in and don't like landing far out of the city and taking a bus downtown in Berlin.
November 28, 2011:
Note added in proof: As expected, the referendum ended with 58.8% nays in Baden-Württemberg. Thus Stuttgart 21 will be built. The participation was only 48.3%. Even in the primarily concerned Stuttgart, 52.9% voted no. Freiburg, however, was the great exception and had only 33.5%, the lowest figure of naysayers in our Ländle. Should I feel like a loser or a winner now?
Even before the final result of the referendum was known, adversaries brandished panels in front of Stuttgart's central station: You won't get rid of us.
As you know from my previous blogs, I am a railway aficionado, preferring a six-hour train ride to a ninety-minute flight, like the other day from Freiburg to Berlin. I hate the stress of taking the bus to Basel airport and having to arrive too early. I detest the checks after check-in and don't like landing far out of the city and taking a bus downtown in Berlin.
On the other hand, I step on the train in Freiburg and step off at Berlin Central Station, enjoying a good book, and you guessed it, the pot of coffee and the Butterkuchen now cost 5.70 euros compared to 5 euros last fall.
Back to our topic: A couple of weeks ago, the state government issued a booklet outlining the pros and cons of Stuttgart 21. This didn't change my mind, but not because I am biased. I was open to any good argument, but the opponents' arguments were just aggressive statements.
What made the referendum really weird was that those who want Stuttgart 21 to be built must vote no, and those who are against it have to vote yes. As I wrote above, the people only decide about a law authorizing the government to negotiate with the Federal Railway to abandon the project.
Although the nays will undoubtedly have it, the protests against Stuttgart 21 will continue. Crazy!
Back to our topic: A couple of weeks ago, the state government issued a booklet outlining the pros and cons of Stuttgart 21. This didn't change my mind, but not because I am biased. I was open to any good argument, but the opponents' arguments were just aggressive statements.
What made the referendum really weird was that those who want Stuttgart 21 to be built must vote no, and those who are against it have to vote yes. As I wrote above, the people only decide about a law authorizing the government to negotiate with the Federal Railway to abandon the project.
Although the nays will undoubtedly have it, the protests against Stuttgart 21 will continue. Crazy!
Note added in proof: As expected, the referendum ended with 58.8% nays in Baden-Württemberg. Thus Stuttgart 21 will be built. The participation was only 48.3%. Even in the primarily concerned Stuttgart, 52.9% voted no. Freiburg, however, was the great exception and had only 33.5%, the lowest figure of naysayers in our Ländle. Should I feel like a loser or a winner now?
 |
| In today's Badische Zeitung |
**
No comments:
Post a Comment