Berlin is committing to a huge investment in its public transit infrastructure. Kiwi-living-in-Berlin author and lawyer Leah Hamilton writes about it.
Berlin will spend $31 billion through 2035 on its public transit system. That’s more than many countries. The biggest changes will happen very fast—by 2023—through an expansion of its urban rail network. Studies have shown Germans prefer rail over bus lines. There will be extensions to both the underground (U-bahn) and above ground (S-bahn) light rail lines. As for buses, the system will be converted to mostly electric by 2030. The investment will also ensure that public transit is fully accessible for disabled persons. The major transit authorities involved include Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG).
Previously, Berlin had lagged other German cities in transport infrastructure. However, with a booming economy and growing population, there has been a popular push to fund public transit improvements. Politics, always important when it comes to transit, have also aligned for transit. Notes Hamilton:
The reason behind these changes is partly due to the presence of the Green Party, SPD, and Die Linke in Berlin’s governing coalition, with all three parties in favour of making Berlin a greener, more accessible city. As part of this effort, political support is soundly behind the improvement of the public transport system as a whole.
For more details and images about what Berlin has planned, please see the source article.
FULL STORY: Berlin’s Huge Push to Improve Public Transit
Berlin Plans Massive Investment in Rail
A new Transit Master Plan will spend approximately €2 billion a year on tram, rail, and bus improvements.
Buslash in Salt Lake City
New bus routes planned for Salt Lake City have provoked a vocal political opposition.
L.A.'s San Fernando Valley $909 Million Closer to Light Rail
The last time rail transit crossed L.A.'s San Fernando Valley was in the early 1950s.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
