An underground metro rail system for Venice? Say it ain't true but some officials are pressing for construction of a subterranean rail link from the airport to the Arsenale, the city's former ship building docks on the western tip. The metro will all be underwater and will pass by Murano and then along the northern side of Venice to the Arsenale terminus. No tunneling under Venice itself and stations there will be linked to the underwater metro by tubes. The idea of a metro has been floated several times in recent years and never got off the ground, or, under the water in this case. Officials point to Venice's dwindling population of fulltime residents, now down to 68,000 as the need of a better way to the mainland so that more don't flee. The scheme also involves a tram link to Mestre, the workaday Venetian commercial center across the lagoon.
A metro for Venice? Say it ain't true!

Considering the "new land" created on the NYC's west side - - couldn't they just start all over down by the Arsenale, and build a whole new fake Venice down at that end - - for the "tourists", and make it about three feet higher, so that "sinkage"/acqua alta wouldn't freak them out? Surely there are geniuses in Las Vegas who would draw up the blueprints!

And leave the real Venice for us Fodorites!

LOL!

Best wishes,

Rex

Fabulous idea rex! Might I suggest you pose it to the Venetian authorities??

I don't think that idea holds water! Venice - as the old saying goes, is sinking under the weight of tourism.

Rex's excellent idea is one that I have heard seriously proposed by a professor at the (rough translation) Venice University Institute of Architecture.

Regrettably, his plan did not provide for special admission for Fodorites...

If Venice continues to sink so quickly, will the underground metro become a monorail someday? :-?