A new milestone for Frankfurt's mobility: a pilot project has been launched with the M32 metro bus line, which aims to make bus transport faster, more efficient and more environmentally friendly using innovative technology. The project is supported by EU funding of around 6.4 million euros and relies on so-called "Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems" (C-ITS), which ensure the networking of vehicles and transport infrastructure.
The concept aims to digitally connect buses and traffic lights so that public transport takes priority over private transport. In a first step, 60 buses on the M32 line will be equipped with on-board units that communicate in real time with 32 traffic lights along the route from Ostbahnhof to Westbahnhof. The pilot project, which is due to be completed by 2027, will go into regular operation from 2028.
"In a growing city like Frankfurt, where more and more types of transport are using the same limited space, digital technologies such as C-ITS are an indispensable tool for efficiently managing traffic," explains Wolfgang Siefert, Head of Mobility. The technology should help to avoid traffic jams and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions and emissions that are harmful to health.
Petra Lau, Head of the Road Traffic Office, also emphasizes that Frankfurt has been relying on digital traffic technology for years. The networking of systems should now further increase the benefits for public transport passengers.
Another advantage of C-ITS technology is that it enables more precise control of the traffic flow. Traffic lights and vehicles exchange data so that bus traffic can be organized more efficiently. The integration of the subway and streetcars into the system is also already being planned.
"Good local transport must be fast, punctual and convenient. Modern technologies such as C-ITS play a key role in further increasing the attractiveness of Frankfurt's public transport system," says Prof. Tom Reinhold, Managing Director of traffiQ.
The C-ITS system is based on an intensive exchange of data between vehicles, traffic lights and the central traffic control center. This allows traffic lights to be optimized in advance and in line with the traffic situation in order to guarantee an accident-free and smooth flow of traffic.
In the long term, the project is not only intended to improve bus traffic, but also to be extended to other modes of transport. The integration of C-ITS into the entire transport system of the city of Frankfurt could represent an important step towards more sustainable and efficient mobility.
Further information on the "Frankfurt MIND+" and "DTC" projects can be found on the websites of Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt (VGF) and the Road Traffic Department.
