New concept aims to ease commuter traffic and facilitate switch to public transport
Frankfurt am Main. – Around 463,000 workers commute to Frankfurt every working day, and around 60 per cent of them still rely on their cars. The result: traffic jams, a shortage of parking spaces and a permanently congested transport network. Those who switch to eco-friendly modes of transport such as cycling and rail not only save time and stress, but also relieve the strain on the roads. For many commuters from the surrounding area, however, the car remains indispensable – at least until they reach the nearest S-Bahn or underground station. Park-and-ride facilities (P+R) provide a solution. They allow commuters to park their cars on the outskirts of the city and switch to bus or train. The Deutschlandticket has made this model more economically attractive for commuters. However, the existing capacity in Frankfurt has long since reached its limits. Expansion at key locations The city's mobility department has now presented a new P+R concept. Around 2,000 additional parking spaces are planned in the Frankfurt city area. The Römerhof and Borsigallee locations, which have 1,200 spaces, are being given special consideration. Around 2,000 additional parking spaces are planned in the Frankfurt city area. The Römerhof and Borsigallee locations are particularly being considered, which, with 1,200 spaces, are expected to accommodate the largest commuter flows.
The concept also mentions Taunusblick, Kalbach and Frankfurter Berg as further options. However, these locations, which are convenient in terms of transport, require extensive preliminary investigations, particularly with regard to planning and nature conservation law. The city sees particularly favourable conditions at the Taunusblick location, which is directly adjacent to the A5 motorway and will be connected to the U7 underground line in the future. A total of 836 additional parking spaces could be created there.
Interim solutions and partnerships
As larger construction projects take years to complete, Frankfurt is focusing on pragmatic interim solutions in the meantime. For example, a partnership with the Hessen-Center is already underway, which will create additional capacity from March 2025. Combinations with event parks – for example, in the vicinity of the stadium or in Gateway Gardens – are also being examined, particularly with regard to the planned multifunctional arena. N P Joint task for the region N P The new concept is part of the "Intermodal and Regional Networking" sub-strategy in the Mobility Master Plan. The aim is to establish P+R as an integral part of sustainable, networked mobility in the Rhine-Main region. This requires not only fast transfer options and frequent public transport services, but also safe, clean facilities.
The Mobility Department emphasises that implementation can only succeed in cooperation with surrounding municipalities, transport associations and the state of Hesse. Interested municipalities are invited to work together with the City of Frankfurt and the local transport company traffiQ.
In addition to traffiQ, the RMV, the Office for Road Construction and Development, the Parks Department, ivm GmbH, the FrankfurtRhineMain Regional Association and environmental and planning authorities were also involved in developing the concept.
