Offenburg's Mobility Transformation: The Master Plan and its Implementation

Offenburg is reshaping mobility: The 2035 Master Plan and its Implementation

The city of Offenburg has established itself in recent years as a pioneer in climate-friendly mobility. The traffic master plan, adopted in 2023 and since 2025 referred to as "Zukunftswege Offenburg 2035", is a central component for a climate-friendly, sustainable, and traffic-just urban development. In April 2026, further steps were initiated in the traffic committee that show: Offenburg is not just making plans – Offenburg is acting.

Funding and Support: The Foundation for Implementation

The "Zukunftswege 2035" master plan is budgeted at a total of 213 million euros, with 124 million euros being the city’s responsibility. A key factor for feasibility is funding through the Climate Bonus, which brings in approximately 29 million euros – about 14% of the total costs. Central measures such as the electrification of the bus fleet, 30 km/h zones, or the optimization of cycling infrastructure already cost 73 million euros, clearly showing that Offenburg is preparing for a long-term investment cycle.

Although funding is secured, the city remains cautious. The administration has been tasked to take action independently in the event of missing offers – a sign that implementation remains a focus, even if external conditions vary.

Traffic Light Control and Energy Efficiency: The Technical Foundations of Traffic Optimization

An often underestimated, but crucial component of climate-friendly mobility is traffic light management. In April 2026, a decision was made to build the traffic signal control center as part of the master plan. The goal is to optimize traffic flows, reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and at the same time increase traffic safety.

The modernization is carried out step by step: 12 outdated control units are to be replaced by energy-efficient LED signal devices, which not only extend the lifespan of the systems, but also reduce energy costs. Each replacement costs about 50,000 euros, but the long-term savings and climate impact justify the investment.

The software platform MyCity plays a central role here. It collects real-time data and enables an adaptive control that reacts to actual traffic flows. This is especially beneficial during peak hours, when the efficiency of traffic lights is crucial.

Public Transport, Cycling and Car-Free City Center: The Pillars of Climate-Friendly Mobility

Another focus is the electrification of the city bus fleet, which is to be completed by 2035. The tender for the period 2027–2042 is already in planning. At the same time, cycling infrastructure is being expanded: 10 km of cyclist-friendly street redesign and four bike streets are planned by 2035. The evaluation of Zeller Straße Ost has shown that speeds have dropped significantly – a success for more safety and less noise pollution.

The car-free city center is an ambitious project being implemented through traffic calming and the expansion of pedestrian zones. However, the plans are running into structural limitations, which is why the city center program GO OG 2.0 is to serve as a pilot project.

Parking Management and 30 km/h Zones: Implementation in Detail

In April 2026, concrete decisions were also made regarding parking management: parking fees are to be increased, parking spaces are to be redesigned in several projects, and new parking garages are planned on Rheinstraße and in Lise-Meitner-Straße. This is part of the strategy to reduce motorized individual traffic and redistribute public space.

In addition, new 30 km/h zones were decided – among others in Zähringer Straße, Schweighausenstraße, and Am Wiesenrain. These measures are part of the speed network defined in the master plan. They contribute to traffic safety and at the same time promote quality of life in the urban space.

Outlook: Offenburg on the Way to a Climate-Friendly Future

The mobility transformation in Offenburg is well underway. With the master plan "Zukunftswege 2035", the city has created a clear framework that is both technically and financially sustainable. The implementation is proceeding step by step, but consistently – from the modernization of traffic lights to the electrification of public transport.

The coming months will show how the measures perform in practice. With the construction of the traffic signal control center and further projects such as the redesign of Moltkestraße, Offenburg will remain a pioneer in climate-friendly mobility in the years to come.