Riva Could Use 10 Billion Lire in Funds for Underground Parking Expansion

The billions available to the Municipality of Riva for the Pilati underground parking are already 10 billion lire, roughly two-thirds of the total projected expenditure, but could increase even further to nearly cover the entire cost. The additional funding, a true manna in the desert, could come from the cousins of Arco, provided they do not change their minds regarding their underground parking project at Foro Boario.

Under the old Tognoli law from the early 1990s, contributions were requested from Riva, Arco, Rovereto, and Trento, but only the two towns in the Busa area were admitted, receiving 11 billion 660 million lire for Riva and 5 billion 880 million lire for Arco. The process then continued with the unrelenting determination of bureaucratic procedures, with the state regularly disbursing the annual contributions granted to the province, which would then pass them on to the municipalities.

Use of Funds and Future Scenario

Overall, as detailed in the report read by Mayor Malossini to the Riva city councilors, from 1994 through 2000, the province received from Rome 10 billion 436 million lire, with nearly 4.5 billion lire still to be received by 2003. These funds are allocated, based on projects submitted and approved at the national level, two-thirds to Riva and the remaining third to Arco.

However, priorities have shifted. While Riva has consistently reiterated its firm intention to develop the underground parking, the municipal administration of Arco considers the expenditure to be excessive for the local authority and has thus shelved the Foro Boario project.

Nevertheless, the province continues to receive funds which cannot be redirected to other initiatives nor recovered by other municipal administrations. Unless there are reconsiderations by Arco’s leadership (which has changed twice, with new mayors, councilors, and assessors), the only options seem to be either adding these funds to those allocated to Riva for parking or returning them to the central government.

If this unexpected windfall materializes, the Riva underground parking will probably not even need the 5 billion lire that the municipality is ready to disburse.