The cantons of Uri and Ticino (situated along the Gotthard route) submitted a cantonal initiative to the Swiss government in 2008, asking it to accelerate the transfer of freight from road to rail, in particular by means of the Alpine Crossing Exchange. After the Council of States (Upper Chamber of the Swiss Parliament) adopted the cantonal initiative in May 2009, the Transport Committee of the National Council (Lower Chamber of the Swiss Parliament) also approved the cantonal initiative and additional measures for an increased transfer of freight from road to rail on Friday, 23 April 2010. According to Swiss parliamentary law, the plenary of the National Council is not required to approve cantonal initiatives following a positive decision by the Committee. One of the two parliamentary Transport Committees will now be charged with elaborating a draft. Press release by the Transport Committee of the National Council (available in German, French and Italian) Press release by the Alpine Initiative (available in German, French and Italian)