Noise and transit: Tyrol's fight against the truck collapse on the Brenner!

A significant step to improve traffic management on the Brenner corridor was taken today in Kufstein. Tyrol's Governor Anton Mattle, South Tyrol's Arno Kompatscher and Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder agreed on a joint declaration that brings a digital traffic management system into being. This system is intended to smooth out truck traffic, minimize traffic jams and increase security of supply for the population. This is reported by ORF Tirol.

The signing makes it clear that the trucks involved will be allowed to pass through the Brenner corridor during time slots that can be booked in advance, which will result in less noise and environmental damage. “The high volume of traffic is an enormous burden for the people in our country,” explained Mattle, making the urgency of these measures clear. The long-term shift of freight transport from road to rail is also important, Mattle continued. This supports projects to improve rail transport and infrastructure in line with the Brenner Base Tunnel, which, according to Kompatscher, is a crucial project for the future of the region and European connectivity.

Political unity and challenges

Looking back at the current developments, Mattle also emphasized the agreement within the Tyrolean state government regarding anti-transit measures, which should not be undermined by the introduction of the new system. “There are no lazy compromises,” he clarified while talking about the need for proper noise protection. The demands from Tyrol regarding a truck ban and noise reduction were also examined in more detail in a current federal government program. According to Mattle, seven references to Tyrol can already be seen in the traffic chapter.

Nevertheless, opposition parties sharply criticized the implementation and the measures taken so far. Discussions on harmonized solutions are a priority in order to provide relief for citizens and the environment while at the same time strengthening competitiveness. In particular, the FPÖ called for ensuring a transparent discussion about existing driving bans. These challenges will now be clearly felt in the coming negotiations between the national governments of Austria, Italy and Germany. According to the Tyrolean governor, “everyone has to pull together” to achieve a sustainable solution for the Brenner corridor.