Local politics and disagreement over who should pay is keeping Palermo’s brand-new tram system from carrying residents and visitors around the city, and it’s not clear there’s an end in sight, although the mayor has threatened to resign if there’s no solution by Dec. 31.
The first line of the three-line system is finished and operating, but without passengers, and the other two lines are scheduled to be finished within a month. But no passengers can ride, because there is no contract with an operating company. The mayor had wanted the contract to go to the local transit operator, Amat, but the city council has turned down all proposed contracts.
The city council hasn’t accepted the mayor’s plan to cover the costs by creating a limited-traffic zone in the historic center, charging annual fees for those allowed to drive there. Some council members argued that a limited traffic zone would cause more pollution, rather than less!
For more details, see TheLocal.it HERE
It is little wonder the citizens of Sicily are so frustrated with their government (s).