Tyrol transit traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels

Transit traffic in Tyrol is facing significant scrutiny as recent reports indicate that truck transit volumes have returned to pre-pandemic levels. According to a current traffic report, three-quarters of the 52 million tons of freight volume passing through the Brenner Pass is handled by trucks, highlighting ongoing challenges in shifting freight from road to rail.

The Transitforum has issued sharp criticism against the Tyrol state government’s ‘Fernpass-Paket’ presented in early 2024. The initiative, led by Fritz Gurgiser, demands a suspension or complete halt of the package, arguing that it exacerbates existing traffic, noise, and environmental issues along the Fernpass route rather than solving them.

Critics argue that government claims that the package will not increase traffic are incorrect and that the current political direction accepts high traffic loads for local residents. Furthermore, the proposed development of the Fernpass summit toll tunnel is viewed as a departure from previous strategies developed through citizen participation. In contrast to the transit issues, the regional report noted a slight increase in cycling trends across Tyrol.