The State of Vorarlberg on the Internet

More than ten years ago Vorarlberg's transport policy laid the foundations for the use of public transport as an instrument of future-oriented transport planning. From then on the promotion of public transport became more than just a series of verbal transport policy demands and obligatory exercises. It became firmly anchored in the basic principles and targets of the Vorarlberg transport concept and is now being implemented so successfully that it has even gained international recognition.

Basic principles and targets (extract from the Vorarlberg Transport Concept):

• Transport policy must serve the general interests of the whole population.
• Transport-related pollution must be reduced using all suitable means.
• Non-motorised passenger traffic should be given preference wherever suitable conditions can be used or created – for example by the adaptation of the legal framework or subsidisation guidelines.
• Public transport must be organised as a competitive alternative to motorised individual transport.
• A minimum level of service in the appropriate quality (basic provision) must be provided or maintained for the sections of the population depending on public transport.
• Routes, timetables and fares of public transport shall be organised in such a way as to satisfy and induce demand.  For this purpose close cooperation with and between transport service providers must be achieved.
• In order to allow efficient planning by the ÖPNV in conjunction with the co-financing bodies, it is necessary to work towards the further development of the legal basis particularly in the area of bus routes.
• The ÖPNV must be adapted to the various requirements in terms of routes and times. Promising trials with unconventional approaches must be supported.
  

In a first step in 1989, the aim of organising public transport as a competitive alternative to motorised individual transport led to the introduction of the Vorarlberg fare model. Tickets were sold at half price for the use of bus and rail in Vorarlberg including cross-border routes on presentation of the so-called "Vorarlberg Half-Price Pass", a transferable ID card. The half-price pass cost 200 shillings and was valid for one year as of the date of issue. The fare model also provided reduced-price weekly tickets for busses. The fare model was generally well received but proved counterproductive in practice.  As there was no integrated ticketing system, separate tickets had to be purchased to use different transport companies. The increased sale of cut-price tickets increased the customer service times. This meant that the model had to be fundamentally revised.

In developing an integrated transport and ticketing system one has to assume that low fares alone will not lead to success. In the interests of an integrated process of transport planning, and in view of the fact that public transport does not always enjoy a positive image (only for people who can't afford cars), a wide range of aspects have to be taken into account. Above all, synergy effects must be exploited by cooperation.  As well as the good cooperation between local authorities, the state, the federal government and transport companies, the success of the Vorarlberg integrated transport system (link to German page) is based mainly on the following four factors:

1. Fare system (cheap and easy to understand)
2. Timetable (shuttle services, good connections)
3. ÖPNV - image (appearance, quality, comfort)
4. Financing (stable financing model)

The concept introduced in December 1991 and adapted with the fares reform in June 2002 is based on the following elements of the Vorarlberg integrated transport system  (link to German page).

• Uniform fare system throughout the state
• Zone fares: Domino = one zone, Regio = fixed combination of Dominos; Maximo = total transport region; the flexible combination of Dominos or Regios allows customised formation of smaller or larger regions.
• Transferability of the daily, weekly and monthly tickets and, optionally, of the annual tickets
• Flow date for weekly or monthly tickets
• Special offers for pupils, students and families
• Central annual ticket administration
• Service improvements (shuttle services) in all regions
• Extension of the rail infrastructure
• Requirements-oriented services (cab sharing)
• Linking of ÖPNV and cycle traffic
• Acceleration of the ÖPNV (bus lanes, traffic light priority)
• Joint advertising and marketing measures
• Uniform CD concept
• Target group-oriented (e.g. walkers, skiers, cooperation with the Dornbirn trade fair, Bregenz Opera Festival ...)
• Acceleration of ticket sales
• Involvement of local authorities in the financing
• ÖPNV subsidisation guideline of the state

Further information on fares and timetables of the Vorarlberg integrated transport system is available at www.vmobil.at  (link to German page).