Tokyo traffic light, Tempo 30: City councilors want to beautify Munich's station district - "Blueprint for the whole city"

Created: 01/03/2022, 2:30 PM

From: Sascha Karowski

The area around the main train station is to be upgraded.

Several groups are calling for this.

© Achim Schmidt

The area around the main train station is to be upgraded.

Several groups are calling for this.

Among other things, more trees and car-free Sundays are planned.

A traffic light switch from Japan should also help pedestrians.

Munich - Beauty cure for the Bahnhofsviertel: Several parliamentary groups made applications yesterday to upgrade the area around the main train station.

The basis for this is the SiBa study (security in the station district) by the University of Tübingen.

Accordingly, new traffic concepts such as car-free Sundays or so-called Tokyo traffic lights, more cleanliness and a more appealing design should ensure a better atmosphere.

"Although the city is already doing a lot to improve the situation, some of the problems that are typically encountered in large cities are concentrated in the station district," says Green Councilor Clara Nitsche.

That makes changes necessary.

Redesign of Munich's Bahnhofsviertel: more summer streets are planned

In order to improve the quality of stay, for example, the package of measures provides, among other things, to create more space through optimized use of the parking areas for commercial traffic, which is then available for pedestrians and other uses. The proposal to try car-free weekends and so-called Tokyo traffic lights in the station district aims in the same direction, whereby all pedestrians in the intersection area receive the green light at the same time, which also makes diagonal crossings possible. The introduction of Tempo 30 in the station district and the designation of summer roads are also included in the package now presented.

More quality of stay is also the aim of the proposal to provide better lighting in the station district and to exploit artistic potential with monitors, laser installations and other forms of light art.

Further opportunities for upgrading public space lie in planting more trees and greening the entire district.

In order to improve cleanliness, it is conceivable to set up 24-hour toilets, to set up more rubbish bins or deposit rings.

Drinking fountains and cultural events in public spaces are intended to make the Bahnhofsviertel more attractive for Munich residents as well.

Redesign of Munich's Bahnhofsviertel: All actors should be involved

All relevant actors should be involved in the design process, such as the police, the station mission, D3, the Southern Station District Association or the district committees.

"With everyone for everyone - together we make our station district more beautiful," says SPD Vice Christian Vorländer.

With the intergroup package of measures, a big impact was achieved.

"A lot can be achieved, especially in the transport sector: The creative concepts that we are now testing at the main train station can be the blueprint for the entire city - so that Munich becomes even more liveable."