Draft:2023 Expansion programme for the national highways
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 2 months or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 2,813 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
Submission declined on 25 October 2025 by SnowyRiver28 (talk).
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
Comment: Article may be partially written by an LLM. Carolina2k22 • (talk) 12:10, 25 October 2025 (UTC)
The 2023 Swiss referendum on the National Highways Expansion Plan happened on November 24, 2024. It was about a federal resolution from September 29, 2023, to expand parts of Switzerland's national highways. The plan focused on upgrading six sections of the highway network. But, because some folks launched an optional referendum against it, the issue went to a public vote, and 52.7% of voters said no.
Proposal Details
[edit]The resolution from September 29, 2023, was all about fixing traffic bottlenecks in six key sections of Switzerland's national highway system.
- **Bern Region**: The Bern–Wankdorf–Schönbühl section of the A1 was to be expanded to eight lanes, and the Schönbühl–Kirchberg section to six lanes.
- **City of St. Gallen**: Construction of a third tube for the Rosenberg Tunnel on the A1.
- **City of Basel**: Construction of a Rhine tunnel to relieve the eastern bypass of the A2.
- **City of Schaffhausen**: Construction of a second tube for the Fäsenstaub Tunnel on the A4.
- **Geneva Lake Region**: Expansion to six lanes of the Le Vengeron (near Geneva)–Coppet–Nyon section of the A1.
The projects needed about 0.53 square kilometers (530,000 square meters) of land.
The estimated cost for these projects was 4.9 billion Swiss francs, covered by the National Highways and Urban Transport Fund. This fund gets its money mainly from motorized traffic through the fuel tax surcharge, the highway vignette, and the automobile tax. So, these projects won't directly hit the federal budget.[1]
Still, road traffic brings some heavy hidden costs, like environmental damage, accidents, and health issues, which the public ends up footing the bill for. A 2021 study from the Federal Office for Spatial Development pegged these external costs from private motorized transport at 21.6 billion Swiss francs.[2][3]
Development of the Federal Resolution
[edit]On February 22, 2023, the Federal Council sent its dispatch with the draft federal resolution for the 2023 National Highways Expansion Plan to the Federal Assembly of Switzerland.[4]
The National Council took up the proposal on May 30, 2023. Some minority groups in the Transport and Telecommunications Committee (TTC) wanted to send the draft back to the Federal Council, asking for revisions to better align with federal environmental, climate, and energy goals, but this idea was shot down in a 106-to-85 vote. At the TTC's urging, the National Council tweaked the draft to include expanding the Le Vengeron (Geneva)–Coppet–Nyon section of the A1. The Council of States backed the National Council’s decisions on September 20, 2023, and both chambers gave their final approval on September 29, 2023. In the National Council, the vote was 107 in favor, 87 against, with 1 abstention. The Council of States passed it with 33 in favor, 6 against, and 5 abstentions. The Swiss People's Party and FDP. The Liberals factions in the National Council were all-in for the proposal, and the Centre Party mostly supported it (with just 3 votes against). Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party, Green Party, and Green Liberal Party factions (except for one abstention) were united in voting against it.[5]
Facultative Referendum
[edit]The Swiss Transport Club (VCS) launched a referendum to challenge the federal resolution. On January 22, 2024, the Federal Chancellery confirmed that the referendum pulled through, gathering 65,377 valid signatures.[6]
Arguments For and Against
[edit]Arguments in Favor
[edit]The parliamentary majority and the Federal Council made the case that people and goods need a reliable road network to keep moving. With traffic on the rise, national highways are getting clogged at multiple spots. In 2023, traffic jams racked up over 48,000 hours, leading to major time and money losses. Congestion also pushes traffic into cities, villages, and neighborhoods, raising the risk of accidents. Three of the six projects focus on adding tunnel tubes, which would make it easier to maintain existing tunnels without rerouting traffic.[1]
The supporting committee pegged the yearly cost of traffic jams at 1.2 billion Swiss francs. Heavy congestion also ramps up CO2 emissions, so easing these bottlenecks could give the climate a break.[7]
Arguments Against
[edit]
The referendum committee argued that expanding highways would not fix traffic issues but would actually make them worse. Wider roads might ease things for a bit, but extra lanes just draw more cars, leading to fresh traffic jams. More traffic puts a heavier load on neighborhoods, villages, and cities, where most car trips start and end. Long-term construction messes with traffic flow, and expansion ramps up noise and air pollution, sticking the public with big costs. Plus, valuable natural and cultural land would be lost, paving the way for urban sprawl and more concrete. Instead, they pushed for prioritizing public transport and cycling.[1][8]
Campaign Financing
[edit]Since 2024, campaign financing must be disclosed, with the Swiss Federal Audit Office publishing the declared budgets by October 25, 2024, at the latest.[9]
| Support (CHF) | Opposition (CHF) | |
|---|---|---|
| SME and Trade Association Canton Zurich | 90,000 | |
| Cross-Party Committee “Yes to Securing National Highways SG/TG” | 252,500 | |
| National Committee “Yes to Securing National Highways” | 3,922,770 | |
| Oui à la troisième voie – Assurer le futur des routes nationales | 350,774 | |
| Greenpeace | 70,000 | |
| Green Party of Switzerland | 105,000 | |
| Social Democratic Party of Switzerland | 307,000 | |
| umverkehR | 500,000 | |
| Swiss Transport Club (VCS) | 1,759,750 | |
| Total | 4,616,044 | 2,741,750 |
As of: November 24, 2024[10]
Referendum
[edit]Referendum Question
[edit]Do you accept the federal resolution of September 29, 2023, on the 2023 National Highways Expansion Plan?
Campaign Positions
[edit]In favor:[11]
- Parties: FDP, The Centre, SVP
- Associations and organizations: Economiesuisse, Swiss Trade Association, Touring Club Switzerland
Against:[11]
- Parties: EVP, GLP, Green Party, SP
- Associations and organizations: Swiss Transport Club, WWF Switzerland, Pro Natura, Greenpeace, Alpine Initiative, Small Farmers' Association
Referendum Results
[edit]The federal resolution was rejected by 52.7% of voters. Opposition majorities were recorded in all six French-speaking cantons, Ticino, and in German-speaking cantons with larger cities (Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Basel-Stadt) and mountainous cantons (Uri, Obwalden, Glarus, and Graubünden). Support was stronger in rural and smaller urban areas of German-speaking Switzerland (cantons Schwyz, Nidwalden, Zug, Solothurn, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, St. Gallen, Aargau, Thurgau), though the cities of Schaffhausen and St. Gallen, directly affected by the projects, voted against.[12][13]
A post-referendum survey revealed a significant gender gap: 61% of women but only 44% of men voted against the proposal.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Federal Council's Explanatory Notes. Referendum of November 24, 2024 (Referendum Booklet)" [Erläuterungen des Bundesrates. Volksabstimmung vom 24. November 2024 (Abstimmungsbüchlein)]. Federal Chancellery of Switzerland. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "External Costs and Benefits of Transport" [Externe Kosten und Nutzen des Verkehrs]. Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE). Retrieved 2025-10-24.
With link to expert report
- ^ "Cars Cause Far Greater Societal Damage Than Assumed" [Das Auto verursacht weitaus grössere gesellschaftliche Schäden als angenommen]. Neue Zürcher Zeitung. October 10, 2024. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "Dispatch on the National Highways Funding Framework 2024–2027, the 2023 National Highways Expansion Plan, the Commitment Credit, and the Amendment of the Federal Resolution on the National Highways Network" [Botschaft zum Zahlungsrahmen Nationalstrassen 2024–2027, zum Ausbauschritt 2023 für die Nationalstrassen, zum Verpflichtungskredit und zur Änderung des Bundesbeschlusses über das Nationalstrassennetz]. Federal Gazette. Federal Chancellery of Switzerland. February 23, 2023. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "23.032 National Highways Funding Framework 2024-2027, 2023 National Highways Expansion Plan, Commitment Credit, and Amendment of the Federal Resolution on the National Highways Network" [23.032 Zahlungsrahmen Nationalstrassen 2024-2027, Ausbauschritt 2023 für die Nationalstrassen, Verpflichtungskredit und Änderung des Bundesbeschlusses über das Nationalstrassennetz]. Curia Vista Database. Parliamentary Services. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
With links to the Federal Council's dispatch, debates in the National Council and Council of States, and additional parliamentary documents
- ^ "Referendum Against the Federal Resolution of September 29, 2023, on the 2023 National Highways Expansion Plan. Success" [Referendum gegen den Bundesbeschluss vom 29. September 2023 über den Ausbauschritt 2023 für die Nationalstrassen. Zustandekommen]. Federal Gazette. Federal Chancellery of Switzerland. January 22, 2024. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "For a Switzerland That Moves Forward" [Für eine Schweiz, die vorwärts kommt]. Committee “Yes to Securing National Highways” c/o Swiss Trade Association. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "No to Excessive Highway Expansion on November 24" [Nein zum masslosen Autobahn-Ausbau am 24. November]. Committee “No to Highway Expansion” c/o Swiss Transport Club. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "News and Dates" [Aktuelles und Termine]. Swiss Federal Audit Office. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "Campaign Financing" [Kampagnenfinanzierung]. Swiss Federal Audit Office. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ a b "Highway Network Expansion" [Ausbau des Autobahnnetzes]. Swiss Votes (Année Politique Suisse). Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "Proposal No. 673. Provisional Official Result" [Vorlage Nr. 673. Provisorisches amtliches Ergebnis]. Federal Chancellery of Switzerland. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ Mirjam Streiter (November 24, 2024). "Peripheral Regions Halt Highway Expansion" [Randregionen bremsen Autobahnausbau aus]. SRF News. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "Men Wanted the Highways, Women Blocked Them" [Die Männer wollten die Autobahnen, die Frauen bodigten sie]. Watson. November 25, 2024. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
External Links
[edit]- Federal Council's Referendum Booklet
- Website of the “No to Highway Expansion” Committee c/o Swiss Transport Club
- Website of the “Yes to Securing National Highways” Committee c/o Swiss Trade Association
- Dossier of the Federal Roads Office
- Promotional tone, editorializing and other words to watch
- Vague, generic, and speculative statements extrapolated from similar subjects
- Essay-like writing
- Hallucinations (plausible-sounding, but false information) and non-existent references
- Close paraphrasing
Please address these issues. The best way is usually to read reliable sources and summarize them, instead of using a large language model. See our help page on large language models.