Written responses (October 2022)

QUESTION POSED BY ELISABETH MARGUE

"I am posing these questions in accordance with Article 9 of the municipal council's internal rules and regulations.

It turns out that the daily rate for parking at the Gernsback car park in the Kirchberg district has been €15 since 1 February 2022, in other words three times as much as when the car park opened.

This car park, which is owned by the Fonds Kirchberg, is strategically located at the eastern edge of Luxembourg City and provides direct access to Luxembourg City's public transport network via the tram line linking Kirchberg to the city centre. The attractiveness of this car park is therefore a key factor in easing road-traffic congestion in Luxembourg City.

As such, I would like to put the following questions to the College of Aldermen:

• What are the daily parking rates at the major car parks in Luxembourg City, particularly the Glacis and the P&R Bouillon for example?
• Does the College of Aldermen consider parking fees a means of controlling urban traffic, in particular by encouraging them to park in car parks on the outskirts of the City?
• Does the College of Aldermen think that the €15 fee is sufficiently attractive to encourage motorists to leave their cars at the Gernsback car park and use the public transport services to get to their place of work?
• If not, does the College of Aldermen intend to approach the Fonds Kirchberg to encourage them to lower the fee from its current level of €15? “

RESPONSE PROVIDED BY MAYOR LYDIE POLFER

"Councillor,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to your letter of 14 March 2022 regarding parking rates in Luxembourg City.

Based on information obtained from our Service Parking (Parking Department), I can inform you that the rates charged at the Glacis car park are as follows:

•  For spaces along Allée Scheffer, between Avenue Pasteur and Rue Jean l’Aveugle, in the area bordered by Avenue de la Faïencerie, Allée Scheffer, Boulevard de la Foire and Rue des Glacis (extension of Avenue Victor Hugo, between Allée Scheffer and the Schuman roundabout), parking is limited to 2 hours on working days, from Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 to 18:00, and the applicable rate in this orange zone is €2.00 per hour.
• For spaces along Boulevard de la Foire in the area bordered by Avenue de la Faïencerie, Allée Scheffer, Avenue Pasteur and Boulevard de la Foire, parking is limited to 5 hours on working days, from Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 to 18:00, and the applicable rate in this zone is €1.00 per hour.
• In the area bordered by Avenue de la Faïencerie, Allée Scheffer, Boulevard de la Foire and Rue des Glacis (extension of Avenue Victor Hugo, between Allée Scheffer and the Schuman roundabout), except for spaces along Boulevard de la Foire and those along Allée Scheffer, between Avenue Pasteur and Rue Jean l’Aveugle, parking is limited to a 10 hours on working days, from Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 to 18:00, and the applicable rate in this zone is €1.00 per hour.

As far as P&R Bouillon is concerned, like all of the other P&R car parks operated by the City of Luxembourg, parking is free for the first 24 hours, and then €10 per full day thereafter.

Indeed, the consistent management of parking spaces and parking on public roads, achieved through generalising the implementation of paid parking, restricting parking times, the rates charged in the car parks, and the availability of public transport services and active modes of transport, helps to direct short-stay parking (less than 2 hours) towards on-street parking, medium-stay parking (3 to 5 hours) to public car parks, and long-stay parking (more than 5 hours) to the P&R sites, which are generally located on the outskirts of the City.

I would also add that, when the Gernsback car park, which is owned by the Fonds Kirchberg, opened in May 2021, parking rates were set at €1.40 per hour for the first three hours of parking, and then a flat rate of €5 for stays longer than three hours. The rates at the Gernsback car park were changed on 1 February 2022, such that customers still pay €1.40 per hour for the first three hours of parking but, from the 4th hour of parking up to the maximum permitted stay of 24 hours, a flat rate of €15 is charged, in other words three times as much as the flat rate when the car park first opened.

It should be noted that the flat rate of €15, which entitles customers to park at the Gernsback car park for up to 24 hours, is still less expensive than the rate charged for a 10-hour stay in the other public car parks in Kirchberg. The table below shows the amounts charged for 10 hours of parking in the public car parks in Kirchberg.

The only places where parking is cheaper than at the Gernsback car park are the open-air car park on Boulevard Konrad Adenauer and some streets in Kirchberg, where parking is limited to 10 hours on working days, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 18:00. The rate charged in these areas is €0.50/hour, which amounts to €5 for 10 hours of parking.

Currently, the Gernsback car park is seldom used: its current occupancy rate is only around 24% (including season-pass holders). This is certainly due to the new pricing, which is not attractive enough for long-stay parking (more than 5 hours), given that the P&R sites operated by the City are free for up to 24 hours.

Allow me to remind you that the ideal location of the Gernsback car park at the eastern edge of the City, plus the fact that the tram network and the bus station located at the same site can be accessed directly from the car park, should help to make this car park attractive to different types of users. However, the new rates in force since 1 February 2022 could be a reason for the low level of use.

This response is being provided pursuant to Article 25 of the municipal law, and Article 9 of the City of Luxembourg municipal council's internal rules and regulations of 13 May 2013 and, as such, shall be considered as equivalent to a written reply to the question that was asked. It will be published in the minutes and on the City of Luxembourg website."

QUESTION POSED BY ELISABETH MARGUE

"Mayor Polfer,

Members of the College of Aldermen,

My questions concern the attractiveness and urban development of the Gare district.

The above-mentioned district has been considerably affected by the tram construction project and continues to face major challenges in terms of drug abuse and public safety.

In an interview published in Luxemburger Wort on 9 April 2022, two local traders shared their views on the development of the situation in the Gare district. In particular, they expressed their regret at the closure of Avenue de la Gare to private motor vehicles and at the high number of empty commercial premises in the same street. On the other hand, they welcomed the urban planning measures taken in Rue de Strasbourg, and the positive effects of the opening of terraces in this street. They also expressed their desire to see an improvement in street lighting in the district.

In accordance with Article 9 of the Municipal Regulation, I would like to put the following questions to the College of the Mayor and Aldermen:

• Does the College of Aldermen share the views expressed by the district's shopkeepers?
• What measures is it planning, if any, to tackle the high number of empty commercial premises on Avenue de la Gare?
• More generally, how does it plan to make the Gare district a more pleasant and more attractive area?"

RESPONSE PROVIDED BY MAYOR LYDIE POLFER

"Councillor,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to your letter of 7 May 2022 regarding the attractiveness and urban development of the Gare district.

Based on information obtained from the Service Biens communaux et aménagement foncier (Municipal Property and Land Development Department), I can inform you that the City does not own the empty commercial premises in Avenue de la Gare. Nevertheless, we are aware of the situation, and the City's Economic and Commercial Development Unit (DEC) has been able to rent certain spaces in the street in order to open several pop-up stores. To contribute to enhancing the overall attractiveness of the Gare district, taking into account the social situation, the City signed a number of agreements with associations and traders, after renovating the municipal premises in question.

Among these is an agreement to provide premises at no. 16, Dernier Sol for a Red Cross project by the name of "Vestiaires", which aims to provide people in need with proper clothing and, in doing so, help them regain their dignity. Another project – "Saxophone" – is based at Building 24, rue de Hollerich. The building was purchased by the City and the premises on the ground floor have been made available to the non-profit organization "Stëmm vun der Strooss". This association can accommodate around thirty people in multipurpose premises, which serve as a reception area as well as a recreational space and dining room. The premises also include four sanitary facilities and a "Kleederstuff" area. The imminent opening of a new brasserie in the heart of the "Parking Neipperg" municipal building on Rue du Fort Neipperg is expected to revive the long abandoned premises. The brasserie will be able to accommodate around 50 people and will also serve snacks and light meals throughout the day. Finally, it is worth noting the ongoing efforts of the Service Espace public, fêtes et marchés (Public Space, Festivals and Markets Department) to revive Place de Paris and the forecourt of Luxembourg Central Station, by organising regular events and attractions.

For Avenue de la Gare, however, extensive redevelopment of the public space, accompanied by a "business" support program, will be needed to encourage shops to return, and prompt the re-emergence of activities and lifestyles that are typical of a capital city’s station district, in the medium term.

Compared to Avenue de la Gare, the development of Avenue de la Liberté and Place de Paris has progressed well. In addition to the redevelopment of the public space, the area now boasts a number of "trendy" shops, terraces and, in terms of events, a weekly market, a Christmas market which has made a name for itself in the Greater Region, and a new take on the "Garer Kiermes". There are also street decorations, including a 14-metre-high replica of the Eiffel Tower. Not to mention the Christmas lights and decorations for the "Winterlights" festival, in which considerable effort has been invested for the Gare district.

Rue de Strasbourg has also undergone a temporary, short-term transformation based on the principles of "tactical urbanism", and has seen the opening of terraces and the use of alternative types of decoration in a traffic-calmed setting. In addition, Rue de Strasbourg will be completely redeveloped in the coming years, creating an entirely different public space in the near future, where the main focus will be to create a welcoming setting.

The City is therefore actively involved in the transformation of the Gare district, both in terms redeveloping the public space (either long-term or temporarily) and establishing it as a venue for events. The consistent aim is to improve the quality of life in the Gare district for local residents, visitors and businesses and, in so doing, enhance the image of the district.

In addition, Avenue de la Gare has one of the highest levels of pedestrian traffic in Luxembourg City and, apparently, the only time that a decline was observed was during the pandemic.

This response is being provided pursuant to Article 25 of the municipal law, and Article 9 of the City of Luxembourg municipal council's internal rules and regulations of 13 May 2013 and, as such, shall be considered as equivalent to a written reply to the question that was asked. It will be published in the minutes and on the City of Luxembourg website."

QUESTION POSED BY ELISABETH MARGUE

"Mayor Polfer,

Members of the College of Aldermen,

I am submitting these questions in accordance with Article 9 of the municipal council's internal rules and regulations.

It turns out that, for several months now, and in the vast majority of cases, the screens installed in the trams no longer display real-time information on upcoming stops, or the journey times left before reaching upcoming stops and the terminus.

Given how useful this information is to tram passengers, I would like to put the following questions to the College of Aldermen:

• Has the College of Aldermen already been made aware of this problem?
•  Has the problem been discussed by the Luxtram Board? Could the members of the College of Aldermen who represent the City of Luxembourg on the Luxtram Board of Directors provide further information on the causes of this technical problem and the steps being taken to remedy it?
•  If not, does the College of Aldermen think it would be helpful to approach Luxtram, or any third party responsible for the information displayed on tram screens, to encourage them to resolve this issue as soon as possible? “

RESPONSE PROVIDED BY MAYOR LYDIE POLFER

"Councillor,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to your letter of 9 August 2022 regarding the display of tram stops on the screens installed in trams.

Based on information obtained from the Direction Mobilité (Transport Directorate), I can inform you that the College of Aldermen is aware of the situation, as the issue of the screen displays has been discussed by the Luxtram Board of Directors as well as the LuxTram Policy Committee.

The screens in the trams are divided into two parts. The left-hand side is used to display institutional and commercial adverts. The right-hand side is used to display passenger information. The passenger information takes the form of a "thermometer" showing the final destination and the upcoming stops. For technical reasons, the display is only operational in some trams, while in others a blank screen is displayed. The contractor is currently working on resolving the problem and making it fully compatible with the on-board systems. Moreover, the system worked entirely satisfactorily until the end of 2021.

This response is being provided pursuant to Article 25 of the municipal law, and Article 9 of the City of Luxembourg municipal council's internal rules and regulations of 13 May 2013 and, as such, shall be considered as equivalent to a written reply to the question that was asked. It will be published in the minutes and on the City of Luxembourg website."

QUESTION POSED BY CLAUDINE KONSBRUCK

"Mayor Polfer,

Members of the College of Aldermen,

There is no disputing the fact that digitalisation is now well under way, and that many administrations are currently undertaking work to move all of their procedures online.

Many state and municipal administrative procedures can now be completed electronically.

Older people are often out of touch with these modern technologies, having frequently grown up without using computers.

Is there a municipal department that these persons can turn to for assistance in these matters?

Would it be possible to set up a mobile unit that would go out to the city's various districts to provide these persons with assistance by appointment?"

RESPONSE PROVIDED BY MAYOR LYDIE POLFER

"Councillor,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to respond to your letter of 30 May 2022 regarding assistance with online procedures.

Based on information obtained from our Service TIC (ICT Department) and our Direction des affaires sociales (Directorate for social affairs), I can inform you that, currently, our Service Seniors (Department of Senior Services) receives requests for assistance with online procedures on an occasional basis. Since 2020, staff at our Service Seniors have been providing elderly citizens with assistance in completing their administrative procedures, and in particular in arranging appointments for PCR tests and vaccinations, and requesting vaccination certificates. It must be said, however, that the Service Seniors does not assist the elderly with banking matters or tax returns.

It is important to monitor how the situation develops in order to be able to respond in the event of any increase in demand. In that case, it would make sense to set up an easily accessible, ground-floor reception area equipped with a computer that senior citizens could use for their online procedures. Senior citizens could use the computer independently, but obtain support when needed. This reception area could also function as an information and guidance point where senior citizens could consult documents, but also be advised and directed to relevant departments.

This response is being provided pursuant to Article 25 of the municipal law, and Article 9 of the City of Luxembourg municipal council's internal rules and regulations of 13 May 2013 and, as such, shall be considered as equivalent to a written reply to the question that was asked. It will be published in the minutes and on the City of Luxembourg website."