Zürich-West tram
Campus Toni-Areal, Prime Tower, Hardturm Park: Western Zurich is growing and growing. The up-and-coming district has been connected by a new tram line since 2011.
The route from Escher-Wyss-Platz to Altstetten station is the first substantial expansion of the tram network the city Zurich has seen since 1986. The 3 km double-track route provides an optimal connection for Zürich-West and connects the newly created residential and commercial areas with the city centre.
Seven new stops
The number 4 tram runs on the new line with seven new stops between its final stops of Tiefenbrunnen and Altstetten Nord station every 7.5 minutes. Various points of transfer to buses and the S-Bahn create the necessary links with the rest of the public transport network. The majority of the tram route runs along its own line that is separated from the road. Line 4's previous route will in future be run as line 17 from the main station to the final stop of Werdhölzli via Escher-Wyss-Platz.
Upgrading Pfingstweidstrasse
In addition to the construction of the new tram line, Pfingstweidstrasse, the main approach from the West to the city of Zurich, was also improved. The roads are currently flanked by numerous trees and planted central reservations. The generous pavements and cycle lanes running along both sides of the road not only provide greater safety, they also lend the new area the character of a boulevard.
«Boom district»
Zürich-West is going through an impressive change from a former industrial district to a residential and services district. The advantageous transport position makes District 5 an attractive location. Living, working, culture and freedom converge here, but there is still room for plenty of green areas and open space. In just a few years, around 7,000 people will live in Zürich-West and up to 30,000 will work there. Providing the new transport infrastructure means the federal government, the Canton and the city of Zurich have laid the foundations for further dynamic development of this district.
Dates and costs
The eligible voters of the city and canton have approved the necessary loans for the new Zürich-West tram and the Pfingstweidstrasse improvement work. The federal government paid half the tram project costs of around CHF 150 million as part of the agglomeration programme. The share of the costs for the tram project borne by the city (CHF 59 million) and the canton (CHF 90 million) was in each case reduced by half thanks to the involvement of the federal government. After a long planning and development phase, the first spade of earth in this major project was turned in 2008 at Escher-Wyss-Platz, and the project was completed with the timetable change in December 2011.
Project management
The entire project leadership, the project supervisors and the project management from the canton and city of Zurich were on hand to support the city of Zurich's Civil Engineering Department, which was responsible for implementing the project.