by InTrieste
In a move that has reignited local debate, Italy’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, announced in early December that the controversial Trieste cable car project had secured critical funding. Now, a ministerial decree has confirmed the allocation of €48.7 million ($52.5 million) for the project, removing it from the list of initiatives financed by the country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The decree, dated December 23, was only recently made public.
The announcement underscores the government’s commitment to moving forward with the ambitious plan, despite significant opposition and lingering environmental and procedural hurdles. Both the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Municipality of Trieste have signaled their determination to see the project through.
A Complex Financial Shuffle
The funding for the cable car comes from a reshuffling of resources originally intended for a new tramline in Padua. In a compromise, Padua will receive European funds in exchange for transferring ministerial funds to Trieste’s cable car initiative. This reallocation became necessary after the cable car project failed to pass a second-level environmental impact assessment, which disqualified it from using European funds under the PNRR framework.
Legal and Environmental Challenges
Despite the financial boost, the cable car project faces significant legal obstacles. Three appeals are currently pending in the Regional Administrative Court (TAR), all addressing unresolved environmental concerns. In a preliminary ruling, the court determined that the project’s authorization process must be restarted due to procedural flaws.
One critical issue is the lack of urban planning compatibility. Approval hinges on Variant 12 of the city’s regulatory plan, which has yet to be debated by the municipal council. The discussion is scheduled for the end of January, a meeting likely to draw intense public scrutiny.
Local Reactions
The cable car project has divided public opinion in Trieste. Proponents argue that it will boost tourism and provide an innovative transportation solution for the city’s challenging topography. Critics, however, see it as an unnecessary and environmentally damaging project that fails to address the city’s more pressing infrastructure needs.
The opposition has been particularly vocal about the environmental implications. The project’s initial rejection in the second-level environmental impact assessment underscores these concerns, raising questions about the project’s long-term sustainability.
What Comes Next
As the municipal council prepares to debate the regulatory plan amendment, the cable car project remains a contentious issue. With legal challenges unresolved and environmental concerns lingering, the project’s future is far from certain.
Interview: Everest Bertoli, the municipal councilor for financial policies
