Improvements for pedestrians Gare de Strasbourg
The Gare de Strasbourg area has been redesigned to prioritize pedestrians with wider sidewalks, green spaces, and seating at Place de la Gare. Streets like Rue du Maire Kuss are now pedestrian-friendly, with better signage, accessibility features, and improved lighting. Traffic calming on nearby streets enhances safety, linking the station seamlessly to the city center.
Key trigger fact
Use of the station square as a parking lot and traffic area for car traffic.
Key implementation fact
Complete pedestrian-friendly redesign of the square and the adjacent streets towards the city center.
Key evidence of success fact
Reduction of traffic accidents, noise and pollutants, and strengthening of the local economy.
Key take away
Not just visual improvements, but continuous, safe connections for pedestrians.
Challenge addressed: Car-centric layout
In the past, Place de la Gare was mainly used as a parking lot and traffic area for motorized traffic. The streets leading into the city center were also not very inviting for pedestrians. The short distances between the station and the center (less than 1 km to many destinations) are basically ideal for walking.
Solution implemented: Transformation of the square
When the station was renovated in the 2000s, the Place de la Gare was completely redesigned. The focus is no longer on moving and parked vehicles, but on footpaths and unsealed recreational areas. The streets leading into the center have also been made traffic-calmed, such as the Rue du Maire Kuss, which leads directly from the station, or the Rue du Jeu-des-Enfants further along.
Results achieved: Attractive, pedestrian-friendly station environment
The connection from the center to the station is now completely safe and attractive for pedestrians. The infrastructure and the surroundings make walking seem like a logical choice for getting to the station. According to a 2020 report by the Strasbourg City Council, the measures led to a reduction in road accidents in the area surrounding the Gare, while noise and air pollution decreased. In addition, the new pedestrian zones were found to have a positive impact on shopping behavior, with more people walking and using public transport to get to the city center.
Lessons learned: Planning continuous routes
The example shows that footpaths must be considered as a whole route to be attractive to pedestrians and to be accepted accordingly. Instead of just implementing specific, visual redesign measures at the station square, the whole routes between the station and the city center were improved. The example shows that with appropriate measures pedestrian traffic, as the optimal means of transport on these short inner-city routes, can be strengthened. This has a positive effect on the entire environment.
Cross Links
Contact: strasbourg.eu/
Publications: tm-paysage.fr/realisations/place-de-la-gare-strasbourg/
The project Active2Public Transport is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union. The project was initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), Department II/6 in cooperation with klimaaktiv mobil – the Austrian Federal climate protection initiative on sustainable mobility.