Visualization of the pedestrian zone Friedrichstrasse Photo: Senate Department for Transport
From BZ/dpa
Berlin’s mobility senator Bettina Jarasch hopes that the process for the future design of Friedrichstrasse, which will be closed to cars from Monday, will soon begin.
The Greens politician pleaded in the House of Representatives on Thursday to start a competition “immediately” after the repeat election on February 12 in order to develop new concepts for the new pedestrian zone. Local residents and tradespeople should be involved in the process and be able to contribute their suggestions.
Jarasch said that the project, which is highly controversial in the city, should not be viewed in isolation: “It is part of an urban redevelopment project that we are pursuing for the entire historical center.” The center should be transformed into a “pedestrian-friendly space” with more quality of life. These included the Molkenmarkt, the Rathausforum and Checkpoint Charlie.
On Wednesday, Jarasch announced that a 500-meter-long section of Friedrichstrasse between Leipziger Strasse and Französischer Strasse would be permanently closed to car traffic.
This section was previously taboo for cars from August 2020 to November 2022, but had to be reopened after a court decision that there was no legal basis for it. From Jarasch’s point of view, the project is now legally secure.
However, a lawsuit against it is already being prepared again.