Municipality has increased public transport (only partially)

by Erika Noschese

Salerno tourist city? Perhaps. But only in part, despite the many requests from hotel and non-hotel facilities, commercial and restaurant activities which often have to deal not only with the absence of customers but also with tourists and visitors, unable to reach various neighborhoods of the provincial capital . In fact, on the occasion of the holidays of April 25th and May 1st, the municipal administration of Salerno has ordered an increase in the public road transport service. The Municipality has allocated just over 2 thousand euros for Busitalia Campania, the local public transport manager, to guarantee the service of lines 5 and 19 on the occasion of the two holidays. In addition to the normal transport service already in force during the holidays, a total of 24 additional trips are planned to be activated on Lines 5 (Zona Industriale-Ligea-Zona Industriale circular route) which will guarantee the service in the time slot 8am-9.10pm and 7pm (Salerno Vinciprova-Croce) which will travel through the city from 8.25am to 6.50pm. «These additional trips aim to improve accessibility to the public transport service for travelers during public holidays, allowing them to move easily within the city», Busitalia Campania communicated, underlining that «the strengthening of the public transport service integrates the program for the operation of additional services financed with its own resources by the Municipality of Salerno and represents a significant opportunity for Busitalia Campania which constantly aims to satisfy the mobility needs of the Salerno community, guaranteeing a more accessible, efficient, comfortable and sustainable travel experience for citizens and tourists even during public holidays.” Therefore, according to the provisions of the Naples administration, the plan adopted will serve to guarantee access to the city while the other areas of the capital, hilly districts in particular, will continue to be isolated on holidays, forced to resort to private or taxi service, with a significant increase in costs. In fact, it is an enhancement of the public transport system but only on paper. Public transport, especially on holidays, is a significant problem that occurs regularly on holidays: in fact, for some years now the company has drastically reduced journeys, leaving entire neighborhoods uncovered. With the opening of the airport the situation will only get worse but the hope is to guarantee an adequate taxi service that can fill the gaps left by road transport.