Traffic Danger Grows At Border Customs; Making sense of the No-Billag Rejection; Stiff Fines For Improper Cig Butt Disposal; Parking Lot Plan Finally Comes To Fruition

News For 24 April 2018

As the population of Basel continues to grow, so does the interest in shopping over-the-borders to reap savings on goods in Germany.  However, authorities report that the congestion at the customs offices at the borders has also grown to dangerous levels. Ralf Schemenauer, head of the Customs Office at the WeilAmRhein Autobahn crossing between Germany and Switzerland describes the chaotic scene as a "sport".  He reports people making a dash from the tram to collect a customs stamp on an export form, only to miss the departure, leaving their children and  animals unattended as they depart the station.  Concern is shared by the two countries authorities and police departments that shoppers in a rush are distracted from the confluence of pedestrian, automobile and tram traffic, which they fear will lead to a rise in accidents.  The Swiss customs office released 2017 figures indicating 6.3 million confirmed exports, or almost 18,000 per day.

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In March 4, you’ll remember the nationwide vote on the billag was rejected by 71.6 percent. Why was there such a clear verdict? Those who rejected the initiative did so mainly because they regard the public-service as good, that it promotes national cohesion and it is an important for the functioning part of direct democracy. Between March 6 and 21, 1,531 voters were interviewed.  73 percent of the interviewees backed the SRG and offered high or very high levels of trust. However, in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, 54 percent do think the SRG has become “too big and too expensive.”  Most interestingly, 18-29 year olds rejected the No-Billag initiative most clearly at 80 percent. However, only 35 percent of that age group has ever voted.

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A law has been on the books in Basel for years making the improper disposal of a cigarette butt illegal.  However, it was rarely enforced, as there were no disposal means readily available in the city.  As of May 1, those rules will change.  Matthias Nabholz of the Department of Environment and Energy (AUE) reports that now most trash cans in Basel have been retrofitted with an integrated ash tray - therefore, police will be issuing 80 Swiss franc fines to those caught littering. 

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Plans have been completed on a parking garage under the St. Alban Graben near Asechenplatz and the Kuntzmuseum. An idea that is almost 20 years old is expected to be four stories and park 350 spaces.  An existing ramp, now used for the Credit Suisse car park, will be used as well as an exit ramp for the parking at UBS.  Politics played a part in the two-decade delay. Now, construction is expected to begin in January 2019 and finish three years laters. Trams will only be able to run on one track during the construction and the cost is expected to be 52 million Swiss francs.