Stepping Up in Sustainable Mobility: Frankfurt's Masterplan Mobility Passes City Council Vote
Frankfurt City Parliament Paves Path for Transportation Transition shift - Frankfurt city authorities approve alterations in traffic management
Frankfurt, the bustling heart of Germany, has boldly marched ahead with a new mobility agenda. The city council unanimously embraced the so-called "Masterplan Mobility" in a historic vote, setting the stage for a transformative shift in transportation.
Wolfgang Siefert, the city’s traffic commissioner and a Green Party member, hailed the move as a "major turning point" for Frankfurt. The concept, which saw two-year delays, emphasizes sustainable transportation, intelligent traffic management, enhanced logistics, health protection, and traffic safety.
"This initiative prioritizes people's needs across all transportation modes, with a keen awareness of environmental, economic, and social implications," the department asserted. The plan encourages pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users, aiming for an 80% share by 2035, up from 63% in 2018.
The implementation of the mobility transition is designed to bolster Frankfurt’s standing as a liveable, mobility-friendly city, and will steadfastly pursue a demand-driven expansion of space-saving and eco-friendly pedestrian, cycling, and public transport options.
Key Measures
To achieve this goal, the city plans to:
- Pump investments into cycling infrastructure.
- Strengthen existing public transportation.
- Establish low-traffic zones.
- Hike parking fees to discourage private vehicle use.
- Appoint a pedestrian and logistics commissioner.
- Boost electric mobility education and incentives.
- Expand car-sharing services.
The city aims to achieve climate neutrality in the transport sector by 2035, significantly curb noise pollution, and drastically reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Business Community Cries Foul
However, the business sector and a section of the opposition have voiced concerns over the plan. More pointedly, the CDU criticized the plan as demonizing car use, while several Frankfurt organizations argued that a one-sided anti-car policy could drive away customers, suppliers, and employees.
This ambitious master plan replaces the outdated overall transport plan from 2005 and caters to the EU's requirement for submitting a sustainable mobility strategy by 2027. The coalition of Greens, SPD, FDP, and Volt finally passed the concept following painstaking negotiations in early 2023.
Frankfurt Pioneering Mobility Transition
Developed with administration, scientific, and public input, Frankfurt ranks among the city frontrunners in presenting a comprehensive mobility strategy for sustainable future.
- The employment policy of Frankfurt will witness significant transformation with the implementation of the Masterplan Mobility, focusing on sustainable transportation, intelligent traffic management, and logistics.
- Frankfurt's business community and a section of the opposition have expressed reservations about the new mobility plan, arguing that a one-sided anti-car policy could potentially deter customers, suppliers, and employees.
- The mobility plan encourages investments in cycling infrastructure, the strengthening of public transportation, and the expansion of car-sharing services towards achieving climate neutrality in the transport sector by 2035.
- In line with the EU's requirement, Frankfurt has presented a comprehensive mobility strategy, replacing the outdated overall transport plan from 2005, aiming to curb traffic fatalities and serious injuries significantly.
- Franklin's city council anticipates that the success of the Masterplan Mobility will contribute to Frankfurt's standing as a livable, mobility-friendly city, with a keen focus on enhancing pedestrian, cycling, and public transport options in a space-saving and eco-friendly manner.
