Green City Network – Viterbo, Mayor Frontini: “Now too many cars for sustainable mobility”

On April 25, she said it clearly in the main square of Viterbo while the celebrations were taking place: “Today’s partisans are the kids who are fighting for the climate”. Chiara Frontini , born in 1989, is the first female mayor of the capital of Tuscia. Elected in 2022 with a civic list, she has put the urban redevelopment of the city at the top of her electoral program. “Understood above all as a path towards social and environmental sustainability”, she explains. Frontini governs a city of 70 thousand people living in an important agricultural and tourist hub on the outskirts of Rome. The mayor is addressing many open issues in terms of protecting the territory and improving the quality of life of her fellow citizens. Among the priorities are mobility, the energy reconversion of public buildings, and the use of agricultural land.

Let's start with mobility and connections with Rome, a crucial hub for the people of Viterbo and for environmental protection: does an hour and a half by train mean that many commuters are forced to take the car?

"That's right, because there are no direct connections. In fact, there are 78 cars for every 100 inhabitants. Too many. That's why we immediately started working on the Sustainable Mobility Plan. Since we couldn't affect the extra-urban network under the jurisdiction of the Region, we encouraged the local bus network that connects the stations to the hamlets, in order to facilitate the train-bus transition. The 30 kilometers of cycle paths from the station-historic center-university are fundamental."

So we need to convince the people of Viterbo to leave their cars at home. Will he succeed?

“There have been public meetings to explain both the route of the cycle paths and the use of bike sharing. But citizens are also witnessing the replacement of public transport, in which we have made a large investment using municipal funds to purchase electric and hybrid vehicles. I am convinced that all this will create a new mentality. Of course, as an administration we must collaborate with the Region to finally have direct rail connections to the capital. There are many commuters who go to Rome to study or work. For us it is a crucial issue”.

As soon as she was elected, she managed to finance photovoltaic systems on schools. Was it complicated?

"There were funds that we could use. In addition to the solar panels in the two schools, we have made other interventions to always reduce energy consumption. There are also panels on the municipal sports facilities and the swimming pool. But what will really impact the energy transition in Viterbo is the Research Center dedicated to Piero Angela."

What is it about?

"Our idea is that it will have to become the point of reference for all companies in Tuscia. Objective: to support entrepreneurs who have to deal with the phases of energy transition. We managed to finance the project using some investments allocated even by the Gentiloni Government for the suburbs, but never spent. Very little of that entire package of projects remained, also because in the meantime prices have risen. So we decided to channel 13 million into sustainability".

On the waste management front, Viterbo has suffered, also on this point, from its proximity to Rome. How are things now?

"I want to say right away that ours is a virtuous province: we close the entire waste cycle by remaining in our territory. We still have problems with separate waste collection, but we are working to respect the 65% requested by the European Union. Unfortunately, we have often had to support other provinces such as Rieti and especially Rome. After the closure of the landfill in Malagrotta, a lot of waste from the capital arrived in Viterbo".

And then there is agriculture, another important sector of this territory. How are agricultural entrepreneurs facing a path of sustainability?

“A fundamental lever is the reduction of energy consumption, on which they have all our support. But let it be clear, our position is to avoid installing solar panels directly on the fields. Photovoltaic systems must be on the roofs of stables, agricultural sheds and cellars, but not on land that must be left to agriculture. For the protection of the soil and the landscape. There are already too many ground-based systems and wind turbines. We also consulted with our colleagues at Anci and the Region. And then we are trying to do everything possible to sensitize the people of Viterbo to consume local products. The food supply chain can be short and panels on the ground steal the land. Better up high”.

The article is taken from the issue of Green&Blue on newsstands on June 4, attached to Repubblica and dedicated to the Green&Blue Festival (Milan, June 5-7)