Election26: Winkler: Transport Measures Include Tram Lines and New Bridge

Bratislava, 18 April (TASR) - Martin Winkler, who is running for the post of Bratislava mayor in this year's election, presented transport measures for the capital at a press conference this week, with former transport engineer for Bratislava Tibor Schlosser and transport engineer Peter Schlosser in attendance. Winkler's vision is for Bratislava to start moving again and not be stuck in traffic jams. The solutions include tram lines where they make sense, a new city bridge, and traffic relief based on strategic and long-term planning and on data, not feelings. "Recent years have revealed a fundamental problem. Decisions in Bratislava haven't been made professionally; they've been made without data, without discussion, and often without respect for experts. We all know the result - more chaos, traffic jams and frustration. My ambition is clear: to bring reason back to transport. Bratislava needs to start moving," stressed Winkler. According to him, the plan is based primarily on developing the rail transport network, but in a systematic way. There's a need to create a network structure from the existing tram lines, while also connecting them individually to the city's infrastructure. Winkler went on to say that another key component of improving transport is constructing a new city bridge that would connect the borough of Petrzalka with the eastern part of the city. "The bridge isn't just some pipe dream; it's something we want to include in the land-area plan so that it can be carried out within the next 15-20 years," said Winkler, adding that major transport projects must be started well in advance, as this isn't a matter of a single election cycle but a long-term vision for the capital's development. In addition to Winkler (Danube party), candidacies for the Bratislava mayor post have also been announced by current mayor Matus Vallo (Team Bratislava, Progressive Slovakia, Freedom and Solidarity and Democrats) and long-term mayor of Bratislava's borough of Karlova Ves Dana Cahojova (Independent). Miroslav Heredos and Lubomir Geci (both Independent) also intend to run. Transport Minister Jozef Raz's (a Smer-SD nominee) name has been mentioned in this connection as well, but he said that he'll make a decision following the poll in May. am/df