Geneva drops appeal, forcing redesign of tram 15 extension to Saint-Julien

The canton of Geneva will not appeal a federal court ruling that blocked the planned extension of tram line 15 to Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France, forcing a complete redesign of the project. The government announced this decision on Wednesday, abandoning the planned bypass road south of Perly. The Federal Administrative Court sided with opponents in July, citing excessive impact on agricultural land as a key reason. The government said pursuing legal action could have delayed the project by several years without guaranteeing success, so it will now seek a political solution for the plan originally approved in 2013. In the meantime, bus line 80 frequency will increase and the Bardonnex customs post will be widened to ease traffic. A new project governance structure will be established by end of 2026 to develop a new tram route, while other tram projects, such as the Nations line to Ferney-Voltaire, continue.