User:Alma translations/Information service for public transport

LITRA - Information service for public transport (Litra for short, usually stylised as LITRA) is an association headquartered in Bern.

LITRA is a platform for transport policy in Switzerland and the contact point for factual and well-founded information on public transport in Switzerland. LITRA offers its members important networking opportunities with decision-makers. It informs not only members and politicians, but also the media, authorities, the academic world and the general public, about current transport policy issues, developments and events. LITRA comments on central transport policy issues and explores at the most important transport topics in each session.

History
Litra was founded in 1935 as the Ligue suisse pour l’organisation rationelle du trafic in the context of the referendum on the traffic-sharing initiative. Its purpose was to assist the authorities in “protecting the transport facilities belonging to the people as a whole.” The Executive Committee consisted of the civil members of the Council of States, Hans Käser (President) and Bernard de Weck (Vice President), as well as the BGB National Councillor Hans Tschumi. In 1977, the association was renamed the Information Service for Public Transport LITRA.

The association was a pioneer in transport policy: back in 1960 – with the planning of the National road network hardly complete – it called for an “overall concept of Swiss transport policy” to prevent transport problems. In the context of the «Forest dieback debate» in the 1980s, Litra criticised the constant growth in traffic and considered emissions from road traffic to be a major cause. It therefore lobbied intensively for the introduction of a heavy vehicle fee and a special sticker known as a motorway vignette, which is required to travel on the autobahns.

In the 1990s, Litra increasingly advocated an ecological transport policy and observed the steady growth in road freight transport with concern. On the one hand, it was worried that Swiss Rail (SBB) would lose importance and that there would be financial losses for the community as a result. On the other hand, it was concerned about the negative health implications caused by traffic exhaust fumes for the population at large and for the environment.

Objectives
LITRA has been committed to public transport in Switzerland for more than 80 years. In collaboration with its over 200 members, LITRA campaigns for the creation of favourable conditions for public transport, for an efficient and integrated Swiss transport system and for an innovative transport sector.

Services
The association disseminates information on questions and concerns of public transport, takes a stand on transport problems, and takes part in Consultation procedure, particularly in the case of legislative projects, relating to transport.

LITRA also offers a range of additional services to its members, including political work, advice on transport policy, public transport facts, session previews, information service, traffic figures, studies, session events, and information excursions.

Members
More than 200 members support LITRA and benefit from the broad network for public transport professionals in the following areas:


 * Construction and industry
 * Consultation, engineering and services
 * Rolling stock and bus manufacturers, supply industry
 * Transport companies
 * Associations, cantons, institutes

Association bodies
LITRA has a broadly backed Executive Committee, comprising a total of 50 politicians and member representatives. The most important members also meet in the managing board and take strategic decisions. The President represents LITRA externally, leads through its events and represents the interests of our members politically. The LITRA office consists of three people. An independent finance commission monitors the budget and annual accounts of LITRA.

Public transport facts
What role does public transport play in Switzerland? LITRA publishes important traffic statistics in the LITRA traffic figures, detailed scientific reports on public transport in the Yellow Series, current usage figures in the quarterly report and detailed documentation of political activity in the annual report.

Prix LITRA
To mark its 75th anniversary in 2011, LITRA created an award for academic work – the Prix LITRA. This is aimed at all students from Swiss universities and colleges who are devoting their Bachelor’s or Master’s papers to the subjects of public transport and mobility.

LITRA uses the Prix LITRA to promote young academic talent in the field of public transport in a bid to foster interest in the industry and encourage reflection on current issues. Work on issues such as spatial planning, the climate-friendliness of transport, tariff issues and the planning and better use of infrastructure is particularly appealing. The Prix LITRA is deliberately interdisciplinary.

Every year, LITRA awards prize money valued at 3000 Swiss francs to three student theses.

Weblinks

 * www.litra.ch