Criticism from the city's FPÖ

Salzburg still lacks public transport plan for city festival

The trolleybuses only run to a limited extent during the city festival. Concrete alternative routes are still missing, but should be ready after Easter.(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

According to its own motto, the Salzburg City Festival will "build bridges" from June 27 to 29, 2025. The FPÖ still lacks alternative public transport routes. The city announced further details on Thursday afternoon: "Special network plan will be announced in good time." 

10,000 visitors a day, several stages and event areas, sports presentations, children's and youth activities as well as music highlights such as Elvis impersonator Rusty, Tobias Pötzelsberger and Lemo: the city of Salzburg is going all out for the first three-day city festival from June 27 to 29, 2025. The event involves a closure of the Staatsbrücke bridge and stretches from Residenzplatz, Franz-Josef-Kai, Rudolfskai, Giselakai and Elisabeth-Kai via Linzergasse to Wolf-Dietrich-Straße and Schallmooser-Hauptstraße. 

On Thursday morning, a majority of the SPÖ, KPÖ and the Green Citizens' List voted in favor of the civil permit for the city festival. The FPÖ and ÖVP voted against.  

We cannot accept this approach, because the people of Salzburg have a right to know how they can complete their everyday journeys even during a city festival.

Paul Dürnberger, FPÖ-Gemeinderat

Bild: Andreas Tröster

This is because large areas of the city center will be closed to private transport. This includes the Staatsbrücke and central traffic routes. Public transport is also affected, which is why the Freedom Party and the People's Party voted against the permit. 

Opposition fears traffic chaos
Paul Dürnberger, FPÖ local councillor, criticizes the lack of a public transport plan: "We still don't know how people are supposed to get from Alpenstraße to the train station if they don't have a car. We cannot accept this approach, because the people of Salzburg have a right to know how they can complete their everyday journeys even during a city festival." The city does not seem to be able to present a real public transport concept. Sensible alternative routes for the bus lines are needed, said Dürnberger. "The Postbuses are not enough," said the FPÖ local councillor. 

In fact, no detailed plan for public transport was evident in today's presentation to the responsible culture committee. However, bus routes were suggested for the route from Alpenstraße to the train station, for example, which also cover the route during city festival times. Otherwise, there were suggestions for alternative routes, but few concrete solutions. Special routes or shuttle buses are also not mentioned. There is also no clear description of how buses could be rerouted. The FPÖ and ÖVP fear traffic chaos.

I don't understand the criticism. We discussed everything in committee today. The responsible authorities have explained and presented the mobility concepts.

Sebastian Lankes, SPÖ

SPÖ: "Final details are being worked out." 
 Sebastian Lankes from the City SPÖ rejects any accusations: "I don't understand the criticism. We discussed everything in committee today. The relevant departments have explained and presented the mobility concepts. The final details are now being worked out."

Special network plan by May, mailing information in June
Further information was provided on Thursday afternoon. The city announced: "We have just discussed further details with the transport experts. There will be a concrete timetable by Easter. This much can already be said: there will be a north-south connection. A special network plan will be ready in time for May. A mailing for all Salzburg residents will follow in June. There will be enough time for everyone to prepare.

By the way: The closed areas will be open for residents and suppliers from Friday (June 27) to Saturday from midnight to 11:00 am and from Saturday to Sunday from midnight to 10:00 am. Cyclists will not be able to use the cycle paths. 

The presentation mentions an information evening for local residents in the Marble Hall at Mirabell Palace in March. It remains to be seen whether concrete alternative routes will be presented at this time.