Tram Stop Program Delayed; New Neighborhood Earns Energy Prize; World Economic Forum Waste Discussed

News For 15 January 2019

Last week we reported that the BVB, Basel's public transportation operator intended to start a pilot program to evaluate single tram stops.  Traditionally, at places like Bankverein, Marktplatz and Barfusserplatz, two trams in each direction would stop at each station.  In an effort to improve the efficiency of boarding, especially for those with mobility impairments, the pilot program was meant to test allowing only a single tram to stop. However, the program has been delayed,  apparently, because snowfall prevented proper marking of the new stop location at the stations.  BVB, in a news release claims the pilot will go on as planned despite the delays to its start.

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Over the last decade, the old Deutsche Bahn train depot in Basel has been transformed into a residential neighborhood called Erlenmatt East. While construction continues, the development has been recognized by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy for its exceptional energy efficiency, earning the "Watt D'Or" prize.  Prevailing over 44 competitive submissions for the prize from around the nation, the community of buildings was recognized for generating almost 70% of its planned power usage on-site.  The buildings will be equipped with the latest solar power generating systems and environmentally friendly building materials.  

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The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos is just around the corner.  Politicians on both the left and right in Basel are already busy talking about their displeasure at having to "support" the forum of the elite.  Apparently, the Swiss security forces required which are gathered to protect the global elite exceed the available federal forces, so for the duration of the event, cantons - including Basel Stadt and Basel Land, also provide some security personnel.  Politicians are expressing their displeasure at having to pay to protect Trump when there is no direct benefit, only risk, for those cantons that send their forces.  Ironically, for once, both the notoriously right-wing SVP and the leftist Greens and Socialists agree that its a "colossal waste of money".