Future of the Cologne east-west axis: tunnel or above-ground solution?

Veröffentlicht:

Von:

The Cologne CDU parliamentary group has presented new visualized designs on the extended east-west axis and thus initiated a lively debate about the future of public transport in Cologne. These new representations are based on the planning that the city council has put up for discussion. The decision is between an underground solution for the Stadtbahn between Heumarkt and Aachener Weiher and an extended above -ground traffic management, which could potentially influence the urban landscape.

The CDU plans to promote the tunnel option preferred by it with flyers that show the new visualizations. This campaign is intended to address shop owners in particular who have concerns about long construction sites in front of their shops. Teresa de Bellis-Olinger, the group's traffic policy spokeswoman, emphasizes: "The tunnel is attractive, the above-ground expansion is unattractive." The goal is to convince the citizens of the preferential solution so that the light rail is not only functional, but also aesthetically appealing.

visualizations show potential changes

The visualizations created by the CDU show what Aachener Straße and the Neumarkt could look like after building a tunnel. Particularly noteworthy is the "cultural and gastronomy toulevard" on Aachener Straße, which is characterized by wide sidewalks and seating of cafés. Group Managing Director Niklas Kienitz explains that the tunnel construction plans offer the opportunity to create such designed rooms on the Neumarkt, Rudolfplatz and Aachener Strasse.

In a direct comparison, the visualizations for the above -ground option present a traffic axis, which mainly includes two light rail tracks. However, Kienitz warns of the consequences of an above -ground traffic: "If we do without the tunnel, chaos is created above ground: trains, pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and delivery traffic have to share the narrow space in a historically grown city." This illustrates the challenges that an urban traffic policy brings.

political positions and challenges

At the moment there is no clear majority in the Cologne city council for one of the two proposed solutions. The CDU has won the FDP as a supporter for the tunnel solution, while the Greens and the left are for the above -ground expansion. The Volt faction has so far not clearly positioned itself, although a majority of its members voted for the above-ground option. Kienitz expressed the ambition to vote on these concerns at the upcoming council meeting on October 1 or in November at the latest in order to advance the process.

An obstacle to the CDU is the need to win the votes of the SPD that has not yet spoken out for one of the two existing variants. Instead, the SPD brought a third way into play that was discussed six years ago: a longer tunnel that would lead to the right bank of the Rhine under the Rhine. Kienitz emphasized that he has been in close exchange with the SPD in recent months.

Although the CDU plans to significantly change the current draft resolution, there is an openness to check further expansion options in the east-west axis towards Deutz and the University Road-as soon as the planned shorter tunnel has been decided. This could change the image of Cologne city center sustainably and mean significant progress in the field of public transport.