The Venetian Subway Project

For many years now, there has been an active proposal to build a subway that links the Arsenale with the Marco Polo Airport. They call it the Sublagunare.

The Gazzettino yesterday reported that the project has been frozen, for the moment, for reasons that boil down to budgeting priorities.

The scheme has its opponents, as can always be expected in Venice, such as the non-profit group Italia Nostra which claims that a subway would be economically ruinous and would just make it easier for tourists to invade and despoil. Italia Nostra's attitude is that Venice is a "finished work" that needs no modern embellishment.

I almost always take a water taxi into Venice from Marco Polo. After hours in a plane and months away from the city, skimming across the lagoon as Venice slowly reveals herself on the horizon makes me unspeakably happy. If you don't want to pop for the water taxi, there's a cheap accelerato that can be just as cool. But go under the lagoon? Why, exactly? What's the hurry? It isn't London or New York. We're not late for a meeting, or commuting to a Willy Loman bedroom community. It's like asking for a hotel room with a view of the air-shaft and air conditioning units instead of a canale or campo.

Comments

[Kurt]

I have only flown out of Marco Polo which leads me to the water taxi departure - what's the rush? How sad to have to leave Venice at all. Enjoying the water spray as the sun rises over the lagoons is bittersweet.
Underground? I vote no!

[Marco]

I live and work in Venice and believe me that such a transportation system would be really welcome! Venice is not only a place for tourists. And, anyways, tourists can continue to travel by boats.

[justme]

I agree with Marco. This guy lives in Venice and it should be residents who decide on this, not tourists who only want a Venice of the past. The city is loosing so many residents as it is, and runs the risk of turning into nothing more than a museum. Some tourists forget that this is a real city, with real people living there.

[Andrea]

Dear friends,
i am typing this message from Venice.
I would like to inform you about the sublagunare project.

It looks like the city and regione Veneto are ready for the next step in getting the whole project approved and financed.

Some Venetians are ready to fight to stop the project.
It looks like our politician just do not like the city as is and they are trying to change it in a crazy way.

Please enjoy the web site venessia.com and help us to stop the craziness.

There are several different ways to achieve fast transportation, environmentally friendly, much more inexpensive and efficient.

Please join us.

Thankfully
Andrea T.

[Andrea]

Dear friends,
i am typing this message from Venice.
I would like to inform you about the sublagunare project.

It looks like the city and regione Veneto are ready for the next step in getting the whole project approved and financed.

Some Venetians are ready to fight to stop the project.
It looks like our politician just do not like the city as is and they are trying to change it in a crazy way.

Please enjoy the web site venessia.com and help us to stop the craziness.

There are several different ways to achieve fast transportation, environmentally friendly, much more inexpensive and efficient.

Please join us.

Thankfully
Andrea T.

[Andrea]

i have forgotten to mention another web site.
The name is 40xvenezia.
That's also an on line community and some of the members disagree on the project as well.