Courmayeur is studying (and dreaming of) a cable connection with the valleys and ski slopes

An agreement was signed this morning between the Valle d'Aosta Region, the Municipality of Courmayeur and the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to study an innovative system of connection between the localities at the foot of Mont Blanc

COURMAYEUR (AOSTA) – In 2022 it was presented as a futuristic project:halfway between cable cars and rail transport, it would allow Courmayeur to be connected to its valleys with a view to closing off cars and ensuring environmental sustainability.Now it might have legs:by the end of the year, the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti will develop an investment hypothesis for the construction of the "New Alpine transport", a network of cable connections between the capital of Courmayeur, Dolonne, the Mont Blanc Skyway cable car, La Zerotta in Val Vény and Planpincieux in Val Ferret.The agreement between the Valle d'Aosta Region, the Municipality of Courmayeur and the CDP was signed this morning at the Skyway.Present for the Region were the President of the Region, Renzo Testolin, the Councilor for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Luigi Bertschy, the Councilor for Public Works, Davide Sapinet, and the Councilor for Tourism, Giulio Grosjacques.

THE MAYOR ROTA:“FIRST CONCRETE STEP, REVOLUTIONARY MODEL”

Testolin explains:“Today's agreement implements the provisions of the Regional Economy and Finance Document for the three-year period 2024-2026, in which it is expected that differentiated measures will be promoted in the cableway sector depending on the size, local, national or international value of ski areas, for downhill skiing and cross-country skiing, in order to allow everyone a good ability to adapt to environmental, economic and social changes with a view to sustainability".For the mayor of Courmayeur, Roberto Rota, "the agreement signed represents a first concrete step to evaluate the feasibility of a study proposal on a revolutionary project for 360-degree urban transport in the locality".Rota, who in April 2022 presented a first study to the City Council with an expected expenditure of 125 million euros.

BY THE END OF THE YEARS FEASIBILITY STUDY AND MARKET ANALYSIS OF THE CASSA DEPOSITI E PRESTITI

“This plan will look to the future, with attention to protecting the environment, reducing traffic towards the valleys and financial sustainability - adds the mayor - the objective is to reposition and relaunch our locality on international markets thanks to a highly innovative offer”.Luca D'Agnese, director of Policy, Evaluation and Advisory, was present for Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.The CDP will act in its role as a national promotion institute, providing a pre-feasibility analysis and a market analysis.“This new agreement is part of a broader strategy, identified in the Strategic Plan, which aims to strengthen the relationship with public bodies and local administrations to implement sustainable development projects, the modernization of transport infrastructures that have positive effects for the territory and the local communities” explains D'Agnese.In 2023, the CDP's activity of this type "has materialized with assistance to 17 central administrations holding investments in the implementation of over 90 investment lines of the PNRR for a total value of approximately 50 billion euros, of which three billion managed directly by CDP".