Motor Traffic Resumption on Friedrichstraße Scheduled by 2024, with Possible Delays
Berlin's Friedrichstraße to Reopen to Car Traffic, Stirring Controversy
In a move that has sparked debate among Berliners, the new traffic senator, Manja Schreiner (CDU), has announced that Friedrichstraße, currently a bustling pedestrian zone in Berlin-Mitte, will reopen to car traffic from July 1st, 2023. The decision, which has been criticised for its lack of plausibility, comes despite the current pedestrian zone appearing to function well.
The reopening of Friedrichstraße is seen as a treat to CDU's car-affine voters, but it has not been without controversy. Schreiner's decision has been met with criticism from various quarters, including the Mitte district and the former traffic senator, Bettina Jarasch, who wanted to make the temporary pedestrian zone permanent.
The future design of Friedrichstraße will be the subject of an open-ended planning process, involving the transport administration, urban development administration, residents, and business owners. Schreiner has stated that the reopening to car traffic will not be a short-term measure, but the exact time frame for the planning process is yet to be decided and may take longer than expected.
The CDU's approach to traffic calming around Checkpoint Charlie remains unclear, and there are concerns that the redesign of both the town hall forum and Friedrichstraße could mean further years of stagnation and a possible return to an outdated, unsustainable urban development policy.
The current design of Friedrichstraße invites strolling and lingering, especially during the summer months, and its reopening to car traffic has raised concerns about the safety and efficiency of the street for pedestrians. The CDU may also cancel further transport projects in the district of Mitte, such as the bicycle street in Charlottenstraße or the planned pedestrian zone at Hackescher Markt.
The social consensus that the town hall forum area should have been implemented by next year has been disregarded by the CDU and SPD, who are planning to completely redesign the area and impose their own ideas. This disregard for the results of other participation processes is evident in the approach to the redesign of the town hall forum area.
The planning of Friedrichstraße in autumn 2023 involved regular coordination between the Senate, the district authorities, and the BVG (Berlin public transport company) as part of early public participation in 2022. Specific participants included the Senate administration, the district, and BVG representatives.
As the planning process for the future design of Friedrichstraße unfolds, it seems that the future of this iconic Berlin street is more uncertain than ever. The reopening of Friedrichstraße to car traffic has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the city's commitment to sustainable urban development. Only time will tell how this decision will impact the city and its residents.
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