With municipal elections fast approaching in
2009, local politicians are working on a ‘to-do’ list for Florence. Last week, during the annual assembly of the
Florence Confindustria at Firenze Fiera, local business weighed in on key
issues.
From urban planning to waste disposal and public
transportation, the public policy questions at front and centre focus on
efforts to increase economic and social development and improve existing infrastructure
in the city, province and region.
Metropolitan Florence. Under consideration is a plan
to incorporate Florence and 11 surrounding municipalities under one authority in order to
provide the most cost-effective and efficient services. The idea of
‘Metropolitan Florence’ has the support of politicians and business owners.
High-speed trains. Ongoing controversy has slowed
the construction of the high-speed train line between Florence and Bologna. With the Milan-Bologna line scheduled to be running by 2009, business
owners are urging politicians to complete the Treno ad Alta Velocità as soon as
possible. They note that if the high-speed rail system is not completed before
the Milan Expo in 2015, Florence will be ‘bypassed’.
Peretola. After four years of debate, local
politicians have finally come to an agreement on enlarging Florence’s airport: constructing another runway despite the displeasure of the
airport’s neighbours. The additional lane will to allow more flights and better
service in and out of Florence. Building it next to the existing runways would minimize environmental
damage. Although business owners believe air service through Peretola airport
needs to be increased, they also urge more efficient travel to and from Pisa airport, with
improvements to bus and train service and auto routes.
Tramvia.
Members of the Confindustria believe that Florence needs a more efficient urban transport line than the Tramvia. They urge
local politicians to instead consider constructing a subway line to connect
greater Florence to the historic centre.
Incinerator. According to provincial
president Matteo Renzi, the project to build a regional incinerator is mired in
red tape. Although Renzi suggested that it could be four years before the first
brick is laid, the business sector stresses the need to speed up the
construction. They urge both provincial and regional officials to get involved.
Oversight. Local businesses are arguing
for the creation of a special committee to preside over public works and infrastructure
in Florence. With the approval from local politicians, the Confindustria will begin
forming a bipartisan group of Florentine officials, starting in July, 2008.
