REGIONAL TRANSPORT STUDY

Objetivo

The Rheingau-Taunus district is a rural area, separated from two bordering urban agglomerations by a mountain range. Interaction between the urban agglomerations, where commuter traffic is particularly heavy, is vital for the economic future of this region.
The aim therefore is to improve local public transport, while taking into account fundamental conditions. Any reorganisation should not have a detrimental impact on the service provided: even the smallest villages must be adequately connected with the network. Nor should there be any deterioration in the quality of transportation offered, or any increase in the public services deficit. And there should be no additional use of energy and no additional environmental impairment.
Therefore, the criteria for improved public transportation in the study area are: frequency of service, journey time, punctuality. passenger comfort, density of network, timetable offered, fares system, and final energy use, and emissions.
On the basis of observations, recommendations were made that take into account the energy impacts. This package should lead to the strengthening of the "Verkehrsgemeinschaft".

Two networks

The study group recommends the establishment of a main network of fast buses running at fixed intervals, to be completed by a secondary peripheral network. Connections between these two networks (primary and secondary) would be guaranteed by complementary timetables and common stops. The whole network would be managed by an electronic control and information system. These measures should assure the development and a better safety on the local transport in common. Moreover, fares would be standardised. including through-tariffs for neighbouring regions. The general reorganisation effort would be supported by a targeted marketing campaign

In addition to this basic scheme, other more specific proposals were made, like the construction of a bus station in Idstein, the creation of special lanes for buses on the B54 route, putting priority traffic lights for buses at the central bus station in Hahn or electrification of the line (presently diesel) between Niedernhausen and Wiesbaden .

Reorganisation of the structures

The implications of all these measures were determined in relation to the criteria in the above study. Moreover, the study group recommends a reorganisation of the economic structure of public transport. At present, the "Verkehrsgemeinschaft Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis" and its members form the essential decision-making body. Implementation of the plan will require a profound change in the existing administrative organisation. The political body will therefore have to be prepared to find an appropriate system, in order to ensure transition to the new concept of regional public transport.
The 167,000 inhabitants are spread over 17 parishes and no fewer than 115 boroughs. In order to achieve energy saving and to protect the environment, there should ideally be a good public transport network in the Rheingau-Taunus area, particularly for links between Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. However, in order to attain this objective, a fundamental problem must be solved: how to offer an efficient and attractive public service without necessitating too-high a contribution from the population and too-high a subsidy from the public services.
Initially, the weaknesses in the present system were analysed, in order to ascertain a package of measures necessary to improve it. All the elements in the project chosen were considered by taking feasibility and economic viability into consideration. Nine measures were studied within the context of an optimization plan:
- improvement of the bus network and service quality;
- improvement of the quality of vehicles and comfort of bus stops (modernisation and replacement of rolling stock, for example);
- priority given to public transport vehicles over other road users (traffic light switching, special bus lanes);
- availability of public transport in off-peak hours (in some cases, by flexible immediate response systems, for particular demands);
- introduction of new technology (for example, along a main road, a bus would electronically follow a guide track);
- improvement of rail transport (for example, construction of new lines and stations in some areas);
- increase in marketing to promote public transport;
- improvement of internal structures of the regional company in charge of public transport, the "Verkehrsgemeinschaft RheingauTaunusKreis" (reallocation of resources, management, change of status);
-reorganisation of the fares system (standardisation of tickets and fares, establishment of standard fares for different companies, etc).

Programa(s)

ENG-THERMIE 1 - Programme (EEC) for the promotion of energy technology in Europe (THERMIE), 1990-1994

Tema(s)

2.4 - TRANSPORT

Convocatoria de propuestas

Data not available

Régimen de financiación

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinador

INNOTEC SYSTEMANALYSE

Aportación de la UE

Sin datos

Dirección

BRO BERLIN KURFUERSTENDAMM 180
1000 Berlin
Alemania

Coste total