Act on the Promotion of Public Transport - Purpose

1. The canton, in collaboration with the municipalities, promotes public passenger and goods transportation. It supports the federal government's promotion measures.

2. The promotion aims to create conditions for an environmentally appropriate transport policy and provide suitable development opportunities for all municipalities.

1. The Canton and municipalities shall promote public transportation under the aspects of economic, business, and spatial planning according to the following principles

a) all municipalities must be adequately serviced by public transportation;

b) traffic corridors heavily burdened by individual traffic must be relieved by efficient public transportation;

c) good connections must be ensured in transfer traffic wherever possible;

d) appropriate transportation links must be ensured to the superior transportation network;

e) the interfaces between public and private transportation must be improved;

f) the transportation of goods by rail and their transshipment must be facilitated.

1. The law is applicable to public transportation services for passenger and freight traffic that are provided in the interest of the canton.

2. Local urban transport of exclusively local significance and other promotional measures for which no cantonal interest is demonstrated are the responsibility of the municipalities. These may enter into agreements with transport companies regarding the respective transportation services.

1. The canton and the municipalities coordinate their measures for public and private transportation.

2. They cooperate with the federal government, neighboring regions, and transportation companies.

1. The canton and the municipalities shall consider the interests of public transportation in all their activities, aiming to facilitate the use of public transport and to promote the shift from individual traffic.

1. Public Transportation is Particularly Promoted with Consideration for Customer Needs Through

a) technical measures,

b) operational measures,

c) commercial measures.

1. Technical measures are in particular

a) Structures, facilities, and traffic installations which significantly improve traffic service, traffic safety, and attractiveness,

b) Private connecting tracks and additional facilities for rail-bound freight handling,

c) Purpose-built parking lots and bicycle shelters at train stations and stops,

d) Procurement of vehicles.

1. Operational Measures are, in particular

a) Maintaining, expanding, and enhancing the transport service on existing routes,

b) Modifying existing routes,

c) Operating new routes,

d) Operational adjustments.

1. Commercial Measures are, in particular

a) Tariff Association,

b) Targeted Tariff Alleviations.

1. Cross-border measures are promoted if interested parties outside the canton participate appropriately.

2. For short sections outside the canton, this participation can be exceptionally waived.

1. The Canton informs the public about the objectives of its transportation policy and the possibilities of using public transportation.

1. New funding measures shall be agreed upon in writing.

2. The affected municipalities shall participate.

3. Cantonal and municipal contributions may be linked with conditions and requirements.

1. The canton and the municipalities jointly assume the costs of promotion measures that are not covered by other means.

2. The contributions from the canton and the municipalities consist particularly of

a) participations in equity capital,

b) non-repayable contributions,

c) loans.

3. They serve particularly to finance investments, compensate for public service obligations, and cover operating deficits.

1. Contributions pursuant to this law shall only be made if the promotion measures

a) comply with the general provisions (Art. 1-5), particularly the principles according to Art. 2,

b) represent a component of long-term corporate planning in the case of significant investments and changes in offerings,

c) are in accordance with the cantonal guidelines for the promotion of public transport.

1. Recurring annual contributions from the canton are to be included in the budget.

2. Decisions on one-time contributions from the canton are made by the government council within the scope of its constitutional financial authority. The cantonal council decides on new expenditures up to a maximum of 5 million Swiss francs. For higher contributions, the decision lies with the eligible voters.

1. The affected municipalities shall reimburse the canton for 50% of the costs not otherwise covered as per Art. 13, para. 1. The municipal contributions are considered as mandatory expenditures.

2. The distribution to the municipalities is determined based on a basic contribution measured by population size as well as the frequency numbers of the stops directly served by the line.

3. Further details are regulated by the ordinance.

1. The Cantonal Council shall issue the ordinance required for the implementation of this Act.

2. Upon the proposal of the Government Council, it shall approve the guidelines for the promotion of public transport and authorize the cantonal contributions in accordance with Article 15.

1. The Executive Council issues a policy for the promotion of public transportation.

2. It concludes the agreements in accordance with Art. 12 and approves the cantonal contributions in accordance with Art. 15.

1. The Department of Construction and Economic Affairs prepares proposals, agreements, and decisions of the Government Council, implements them, and carries out the necessary inspections.

1. This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 1992.

1. The Canton shall assume, from the commencement of this law, 50% of those operational contributions that have been agreed upon since January 1, 1986, between individual municipalities and transport companies, provided that the general provisions of this law are complied with.

2. The existing agreements must be revised and adapted to the regulations of this law no later than December 31, 1994.

1. Upon the enactment of this law, the law of April 30, 1961, concerning the introduction of the Railway Act of December 20, 1957, shall be repealed.