Swiss government wants to alert the population to emergencies by text message; Uber to launch automated cars in Zurich later this year; and other news in our roundup this Friday.
The government wants to alert the population of emergencies with text messages in addition to sirens
As every year, the sirens sounded throughout Switzerland on the first Wednesday of February to test their functionality.
But because this system has drawbacks – for instance, it may not be heard in remote rural areas – the Federal Council wants to diversify the means of alerting the population, including through text messages.
Specifically, the government would send a text message to the three mobile phone operators in the country – Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt – who would then broadcast it via SMS to all mobile phones in a defined geographical area.
READ MORE: What should you do if a real emergency is declared in Switzerland?
Uber to launch automated cars in Zurich later this year
The US ride-hailing giant announced its plan to have the first self-driving cars available for booking via its app in Zurich by the end of 2026.
To achieve this, Uber is partnering with the Chinese robotaxi company WeRide, which holds a license to operate driverless taxis in the canton of Zurich.
WeRide is currently conducting a test in collaboration with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and the Swiss Transit LAB in the Furttal region, as well as the Aargau municipalities of Würenlos and Killwangen..
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Government to tackle Switzerland’s housing shortage
On Thursday, the Federal Housing Office (BWO) explained its plan to address the housing crisis, as shortages become widespread throughout Switzerland.
To remedy the worsening situation, the government wants to increase the revolving fund used to grant loans to public housing developers for the construction, renovation, and purchase of properties.
Thanks to the revolving fund, 1,400 housing units are added to the market each year.
However, between 5,000 and 6,000 units are needed every year to meet the growing demand, according to the BWO estimate.
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Construction work to stall Geneva’s downtown traffic next week
On Monday February 9th, Geneva’s utility company SIG will begin a new phase of work to install heating networks.
As a result, Rue du Rhône in the city’s centre will be closed to private vehicles as far as Place du Port.
However, Geneva Public Transport (TPG) buses will continue to operate on this route.
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