Making it happen

1988
A lawyer in the Federal Council

Doris Leuthard of the Christian Democtaric Party is a member of the federal government from 2006 to 2018, serving as head of the Economics and Transport Departments. (2016, Wikipedia)

They make the NRLA a reality: Federal Councillors Adolf Ogi (SVP, 1988–1995), Moritz Leuenberger (SPS, 1995–2010) and Doris Leuthard (CVP, 2010–2018). Without Ogi the NRLA would never have happened. Against a backdrop of increasing traffic, debates over environmental issues and European integration, he becomes an unstoppable force. Leuenberger oversees the first constructions and approval of a number of proposals, including the Federal Decree on the Construction and Financing of Public Transport Infrastructure Projects and the performance-related heavy vehicle fee. Leuthard’s era sees the completion and opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel as well as further work on infrastructure projects (Ceneri tunnel, approach routes, four-metre corridor), but also the second Gotthard road tunnel tube, which runs counter to the goal of shifting goods traffic from road to rail.

« The difficulty of achieving a consensus is also reflected in the fact that within the Federal Councils, much remains in flux. »

Moritz Leuenberger, Speech in Basel, 16. Januar 1997
1320 million francs

(public transport infrastructure funding) earmarked for the NRLA according to Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger

603 million francs

(public transport infrastructure funding) earmarked for Rail 2000 according to Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger

55 million francs

(public transport infrastructure funding) earmarked for noise reduction according to Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger

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