Stuttgart 21: New entrance area and civil protests demand clarity!

Stuttgart 21: New entrance area and civil protests demand clarity!

Stuttgart 21, the ambitious project at the main train station, has not only shifts in the construction period in recent years, but also in public discussion. The first ideas already come from 1994 to 1995, and since the official start of construction in February 2010, the city has been pursuing this comprehensive redesign of the railway node. The first excavation work was tackled in 2016 and the shell should be completed by the end of 2023. Nevertheless, the voices that see possible commissioning to December 2026 are currently increasing. As reported by the [Staatsanzeiger] (https://www.staatsanzeiger.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/stuttgart-21-neue- der-beast-der-beast-und-beim-bauprojekt-s-21/), there are not only delays, but also numerous new developments related to the major project.

Citizen participation and citizens' request

An aspect that increasingly focuses on is citizen participation. As the [Stuttgarter Nachrichten] (https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inthalt.staedtebau-be-stuttgart21-buergerdie- zu-s-s-s-sfled-grueft.1cf00a60-e947-af3b-165555E83.html) plans to the city) Stuttgart A citizens' decision on the track surfaces within the framework of Stuttgart 21. Critics demand that the development plans for these areas are discussed transparently and fairly. An alliance has even launched a citizens' request to keep the options for rail expansion open, because the exact time when Deutsche Bahn will move traffic to the underground track systems remains unclear.

Such citizens' decisions are not only an example of an increasing say in Stuttgart, but also a reaction to the decades of protests against the project, in which 50,000 to 60,000 people take place regularly. This protest movement clearly shows that the population wishes more information and co-determination rights, as in the analyzes of cicero. It is currently a perception that despite legal permits there is a lack of citizens' acceptance and those responsible in politics have to adapt to the request of better communication.

outlook for the future

In the middle of all of these discussions about citizen participation and extensions, the question arises: How does Stuttgart 21 go on? The urban planning opportunities are varied and central to the development of new quarters such as the Rosenstein and the Europaviertel. However, the current challenges - in particular the problems with digital signal technology and ambiguities about the distribution of additional costs - are in the room. Commuters also have to adjust to many closures until the project is put into operation in December 2026. A way to convert the frustration of the citizens into active participation could be crucial for the success of this extensive and highly complex redesign.