Money for planning

Showdown in the city over the S-Link millions

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

(Bild: S-Link)

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

(Bild: Tröster Andreas)

City politicians disagree on whether further planning money should be released. Mayor Preuner is hoping for a decision before the new municipal council takes over.

Since the route for the S-Link local railway extension to the south has been drawn up, the question of financing has become an increasingly hot topic of discussion. This is not only about the overall project, but also about the planning costs. On Monday, the issue will be discussed in the city senate.

It is about 1.4 million euros, which should enable the planning company to exist until the planned public consultation. "We need the decision because otherwise the state will ask us to pay. After all, we are co-shareholders," explained Mayor Harald Preuner (ÖVP) before the penultimate city senate of his political career.

In Alpenstraße, the S-Link at Friedensstraße is to be resurfaced.(Bild: S-Link)

Negotiations on payment key are underway
His deputy Bernhard Auinger has already announced that the SPÖ will vote against it. "I first want to know when the consultation will take place," Auinger explains. There could be a majority for Preuner's plan with the Citizens' List. However, the Citizens' List wants to clarify whether the city senate can decide on this or whether it would require a municipal council resolution. In that case, the city parliament in its new composition, which will be sworn in on May 8, would be responsible.

Preuner criticizes the SPÖ's approach. The company should at least be able to finish planning the project before the consultation. "It's hara-kiri what the SPÖ is doing," says Preuner. "We have already cut back a lot in the S-Link company anyway. So the city only has to pay 1.4 instead of 5.5 million euros for this year."

The planning costs are not the only unresolved issue. The financing agreement for the construction of the subway on city land between the city and state is also currently underway. "We are right in the middle of that," says Preuner. Currently, the city's share of the total costs would be 15 percent, and Preuner hopes to be able to reduce this somewhat. With an underground variant up to Friedensstrasse, the mayor expects costs of 180 million euros for the city. Unlike Auinger, he considers this to be affordable in view of the reserves. "We have more than enough to co-finance such things," says Preuner.