Successful transport decision-making - Osmose

Tramline re-routing in Bochum-Langendreer
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Bochum
Bochum is situated in the Ruhr area in Germany. It has a population
of 400,000 in an area of 145 km². For many years, the coal and steel
industries dominated the city. Now it has many service industries
including insurance, science and technology companies and the Ruhr
University. It also serves as a regional centre for shopping, culture and
other leisure activities. Unemployment is higher than the average for
western Germany. The biggest employer is the car manufacturer,
Opel.
Bochum has one of the highest levels of car use in Germany. The
associated problems (including congestion, noise and air pollution and
the waste of urban space) are unpopular. Since the 1980s, urban
transport planning has concentrated on promoting alternatives to car
use, particularly public transport.
Socialdata
Re-routing tramline No. 310
The City Council, together with the public transport operator, Bogestra,
have begun a programme to improve public transport. This includes a
range of measures to improve and extend the existing tram network.
GUIDEMAPS research explored a plan to change the route of tramline
No. 310. The current route passes through the outskirts of Langendreer.
Only 10% of people in the district live within easy walking distance of the
route. Re-routing the tramline through the centre of Langendreer will
allow 80% of the district's population access to the tram network.
GUIDEMAPS interests
The Bochum-Langendreer tramline extension provides an interesting
example of a project where unexpected public opposition significantly
delayed the progress of the project.
In Bochum, GUIDEMAPS explored:
The information strategy used;
How the city authority and the public transport operator
responded to unexpected public opposition; and
How local elections influenced the progress of the project.
Techniques reviewed included:
Informal meetings; and
Surveys.
A Bochum Tram
Network map showing the route change.
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