Riva and Arco Mayors Discuss Urban Cooperation and Traffic Solutions
Riva and Arco? Or Arco and Riva? As if they were almost a single entity? Yes. Strange but true: we had never placed the “cousins” under a single banner before. But what follows, at the dawn of the third millennium, is actually an unpublished interview. The protagonists are Cesare Malossini, mayor of the city of Anzolim, and Renato Veronesi, mayor of the city of palms. Sitting at the same table: to discuss, not their respective problems (which we all know), but the problems they have in “common” (small case).
Once called “la Busa,” it was evident that it was a multifaceted reality, full of bell towers and rivalries. Later (and perhaps this is also a story of missed opportunities, but that would be too long to tell), some politicians, following Trento and Rovereto, realized that that “Busa,” pieced together, had certain characteristics of a “city.” And since they wanted to give it a name, they found nothing better than a kind of sterile, mathematical formula: the third urban pole. What does that mean?
Malossini: “Thinking of a series of services on a larger scale. For example, healthcare, which Riva has consciously acknowledged through the Monoblocco of Arco; or the Palazzetto dello Sport, for which we jointly identified the optimal solution in the Rigotti area (on the border), where Arco will also provide some of its areas.”
Veronesi: “Beyond providing better services at lower costs, the third urban pole is also a challenge to create synergy around issues that individual communities cannot address alone.”
Shared Projects and Challenges
Are there concrete signs of this challenge?
Veronesi: “On socio-cultural aspects, the dialogue between Riva and Arco is longstanding; the rest of the effort is more recent. It’s not a process that can be improvised, but I believe that at the level of political leaders we are well underway…”
Malossini: “Absolutely. I think that even minimal participation of the cousins in our Ags (Group of municipalities) is very significant.”
Veronesi: “In fact, Amsa has become a società per azioni (joint-stock company) precisely to facilitate dialogue with the Rivano tourist companies.”
Traffic and Infrastructure Issues
But is the dialogue about traffic still at a standstill, or am I mistaken?
Malossini: “Well. Firstly, we should say that Riva has secured the western ring road from the Province, and Arco the northern one. This is an important result for both. Regarding the Rovereto-Busa connection, we started from identical positions: absolute priority for road arrangements and a ‘no’ to the highway hypothesis. This was also shared by economic operators and categories. Then we somewhat diverged on the short tunnel versus the long tunnel. Honestly, I can understand some of Arco’s concerns: it is on their territory that the connection between the Maza tunnel and the Komarek area runs.”
Veronesi: “Exactly. From our side, there are no prejudiced positions, but I believe it’s a right of our community and its institutional representatives to tell Trento that the hypothesis of the short tunnel and the serpent road through Vignole is detrimental to our territory. We’re not trying to block anyone, but we simply want the Province to consider more options. Returning to the long tunnel (which would be the optimal!), and a revised short tunnel to minimize impact on our areas.”
Malossini: “I must mention that the amendment I submitted during the observations on the Pup’s variant, which was approved by the Riva City Council, differs from Veronesi’s position only in emphasizing the merits of the short tunnel. Moreover, this amendment also asks the Province to consider potential modifications to the route, to be agreed with the involved municipalities… It’s an open issue. It seems that neither Veronesi nor I intend to damage the good neighbor relations and collaboration with stubborn opposition and closures.”
Veronesi: “Both Arco and Riva must maintain their specific objectives, identities, and vocations; but on some choices, dialogue is not only advisable but necessary.”
Malossini: “Even the citizens understand that barriers are pointless. I like to conclude this interview with a little story-confession. Did you know that on my desk and Veronesi’s, there is the same lucky stone scarab? It was given to us separately after a trip to Egypt, by a woman from Dro who lives in Arco and runs a business in Riva. I hope this truly bodes well for working together for the benefit of all.”