Frankfurt Steers Ahead with Revolutionary Mobility Blueprint
Frankfurt's City Council paves way for transit overhaul - City council in Frankfurt allows traffic reconfiguration
Frankfurt, the city of progress, takes a colossal stride towards a sweeping mobility revolution. The city council's majority endorsement of the "Masterplan Mobility" marks a monumental turning point in the city's history. Traffic commissioner Wolfgang Siefert (Greens) proclaimed it as a "game-changer" for the city.
The cornerstone principles of the long-awaited scheme emphasize ecological, economical, and social sustainability, intelligent traffic coordination, enhanced logistics, health protection, and traffic safety.
"Empathy for the people guides our vision," the department emphasized. "All transport modes are prioritized, with a keen eye on sustainability." According to the strategy, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport will reign supreme, making up an astounding 80% of all travel by 2035 – a marked increase from the 63% share in 2018.
Elevating pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport
"The mobility transition aims to establish Frankfurt as a thriving and pedestrian-friendly city, promoting a consistent and demand-driven growth of space-saving and eco-friendly pedestrian, cycling, and public transport infrastructure," the department announced.
Measures range from expanding cycling infrastructure to strengthening public transport, establishing car-free zones, increasing parking fees, appointing pedestrian and logistics officials, advocating for electric cars, and boosting car-sharing offers. The ultimate goal: climate neutrality in the transport sector by 2035, a dramatic reduction in noise pollution, and a significant decrease in road fatalities.
The business community waxes critical
Portions of the opposition remain vociferously disapproving. The CDU, for instance, labeled the car as an "enemy." However, criticism extended beyond the political spectrum, with the business community also expressing reservations. They cautioned against alienating customers, suppliers, and employees through a "one-sided anti-car policy," contended several Frankfurt organizations, including the chamber of crafts, the IHK, the taxi association, and the German automobile club.
A new master plan supersedes the 2005 overall traffic plan. By adopting the Masterplan Mobility, Frankfurt fulfills the EU's prerequisite for submitting a sustainable mobility strategy by 2027. In March of this year, the Römer coalition of Greens, SPD, FDP, and Volt finally approved the plan following protracted negotiations.
Frankfurt paves the way for mobility innovation
Initially unveiled in 2023, the Masterplan Mobility was shaped with the involvement of city administrators, academia, and the public. Frankfurt is said to have been one of the first German cities to publish such a comprehensive mobility blueprint.
- Frankfurt's newCommunity policy, titled Masterplan Mobility, prioritizes a sustainable mobility revolution, focusing on ecology, economics, social sustainability, intelligent traffic coordination, enhanced logistics, health protection, and traffic safety.
- The policy emphasizes the importance of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport, with an aim to make up 80% of all travel by 2035, a significant increase from the current 63%.
- Measures include expanding cycling infrastructure, strengthening public transport, establishing car-free zones, increasing parking fees, appointing pedestrian and logistics officials, advocating for electric cars, and boosting car-sharing offers.
- The ultimate goal is to achieve climate neutrality in the transport sector by 2035, reducing noise pollution, and decreasing road fatalities.
- Despite the positive agenda, there are criticisms from parts of the opposition and the business community, who fear the policy may alienate customers, suppliers, and employees with its focus on an "anti-car policy."
- Frankfurt's Masterplan Mobility supersedes the 2005 overall traffic plan, fulfilling the EU's requirement for a sustainable mobility strategy by 2027.
- Frankfurt is considered one of the first German cities to publish such a comprehensive mobility blueprint, paving the way for future mobility innovation in employment policy, science, climate-change, industry, finance, environmental-science, public-transit, transportation, lifestyle, home-and-garden, and more.