The scheduled meeting in the Municipality with merchants and residents on the pedestrianization of Piazza Federico di Svevia has been postponed to next week. The reason? Precisely today a city council is scheduled to discuss and vote on the motion signed and presented by ten commission presidents out of 11, focused on the establishment of new pedestrian areas and limited traffic zones (Ztl). The only one who did not sign was Gianina Ciancio, president of the 4th Statute and Regulations commission, and businesses and residents of the Castello Ursino area have already announced their presence in the chamber.
«The motion concerns and talks about the whole city – specifies Erio Buceti, president of the 10th Urban Planning Commission – Every measure adopted must always take into consideration the recipients, whether they are residents, traders, and/or bearers of widespread interests. Pedestrianization makes an area and the entire historic center more livable, but to avoid highlighting the critical issues or exaggerating the problems it is always necessary to adopt measures together with suitable traffic plans, endorsed in terms of feasibility with the Amts, and easily accessible rest areas”.
It is point 2 of the motion that constitutes an unprecedented precedent: that is, it asks to “subject to suspension any resolution of the municipal council that may be issued until the contextual conditions mentioned above are put in place. If, as expected, the motion passes by a very large majority, the administration will have to take note of it and proceed with a serious assessment of the effectiveness and respect of pedestrian areas, but also of ZTLs.
Examples to be reviewed are the “Sciuti” and “Crociferi” pedestrian areas which, those who know them know, are never fully respected and where the council has decided to activate electronic gates. “Sciuti” includes via Filippo Corridoni, piazza Sciuti, via Galvagna, Candio, Gemmellaro, Costarelli and Del Toscano. “Crociferi” concerns Crociferi, Cerami and Sant’Elena streets. But there is also the ZTL, already with electronic gates which includes via Landolina, systematically violated with accesses in the opposite direction from piazza Scammacca and via Mazza, and covered license plates.
To return to Piazza Federico di Svevia, the Municipality’s report submitted to residents and businesses speaks of one permanent pedestrian area and two temporary ones. In order to guarantee access to the Vespucci School, access will be guaranteed to some commercial activities from 6am to 5pm from the three gates located in via Bufalo, via Transito and via Grimaldi, from 5pm to 6am access will not be possible. In the pedestrian area, whether permanent or temporary, parking will not be permitted; 109 stalls will be reserved for residents only in Via Bufalo, Sant’Angelo Custode, Grimaldi, Scuto, Transito and in Piazza Federico di Svevia. To the 60 regulation stalls currently existing in the square, 30 will be added in Piazza Borsellino, 72 in via Zurria, 49 overlooking the arches of the marina and 95 inside the port. In the evening hours Amts will guarantee a shuttle to connect the R1 car park in via Plebiscito and piazza Vaccarini (79 stalls) with piazza Federico di Svevia. But will it be enough?
Tags: Catania Piazza Federico Svevia permanent pedestrianisation meeting traders residents postponed
