Switzerland: Court Decision Marks Another Milestone for “Zoo Cableway“ Project in Zurich

In the Swiss city of Zurich a cableway is planned as a fast and comfortable, environmentally-friendly urban public transport connection from the Stettbach public transport hub to Zoo Zurich, in order to relieve the high traffic load in the area especially on peak visitor days. The Zoo Seilbahn AG, a corporation especially established for the cableway project, received the “green light“ for the construction plans from the Zurich building authorities in May 2019. However, there were administrative appeals against the project so that it was put on hold during the last months. Last week, the Zurich Building Appeals Court (a special administrative court for the granting and refusal of building permits) rejected the appeals – a further milestone for the infrastructure project. Provided that no further appeals are lodged against the court decision within the next 30 days, only the plan approval by the federation remains pending. The approval is expected to be granted soon, negotiations with affected landowners are already underway in order to acquire the rights for operating the cableway.

“We are extremely pleased that the zoo cableway project made another important step forward. The traffic situation at the zoo urgently requires solutions. The zoo cableway is by far the most sustainable of all possible alternatives in every respect,“ says Andreas Hohl, delegate of the Zoo Seilbahn AG board of directors and adds, “The zoo cableway creates an ecologically and economically sustainable solution as an alternative to travelling by car. It causes no noise, no exhaust fumes and it is safe, fast and comfortable.“

A model of the planned ten-passenger and barrier-free gondolas from manufacturer CWA is on display at Zoo Zurich. Detailed information on the cableway project are also available onsite. (eap)