Tram Safety System Fails; Temporary Housing Secured For Refugees; Tide Turns For Basel Exhibitions Operator

News Stories For 29 March 2022

After years of complaints and injuries, Basel Stadt decided last year to install rubber gaskets in tram tracks to prevent bicyclists from losing control of their ride.  The plan was for the inserts to be installed wherever it is difficult for bicyclists to avoid traversing the tracks during the normal flow of traffic.  Unfortunately, the pilot program which started in the Gundeldinger district of Basel last November is off to a disappointing start.  It appears the rubber material is not as robust as expected, and though designed to last a year, shows signs of dangerous wear and tear after a few months.  The city is still going ahead with the effort, and the manufacturer of the gaskets has committed to reformulating the materials to make them stronger.  Basel Stadt's latest plan is to spend 20-30 million francs to upgrade the entire tram rail system with the safety gaskets once the pilot period ends.

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The BaselLand pension fund, owner of a 12 story building in Heuwaage slated for demolition and redevelopment next year, has temporarily donated use of the building to Ukrainian refugees fleeing conflict.  With the help of their marketing subsidiary Adimmo, the building will be able to house up to 130 people in one to five room apartments until January 31, 2023.  Basel Stadt's social welfare department will take over management of the operations at the building while the refugees are in residence, and will look after utilities, and maintenance according to Ruedi Illes, spokesperson for the department.  At the moment, the building is mostly vacant - its long term residents having moved out in anticipation of the redevelopment plans.

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Publicly traded Basel exhibition center operator MCH Group reported improving operating results earlier today.  The company, which had to endure a painful restructuring in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020, reported a profitable 6 month period for the second half of 2021, and a smaller loss for the entire year when compared to 2020.  Expos, including Art Basel - the crown jewel of MCH Group's trade shows - were effectively shut down for almost 2 years during the pandemic, causing economic carnage.  In its media release on Tuesday, the company expressed optimism about its future prospects.