On 27 June 2024, the new mobility plan (“Mobilitéitsplang”) of the City of Luxembourg was presented to the public. Its aim is to reorganise the capital’s transport system to respond to the corresponding challenges of 2035. This strategic plan addresses the challenges of population growth, environmental concerns and urban accessibility, while promoting sustainable, innovative and integrated mobility solutions.

Aim

The central goal of the Luxembourg Mobility Plan is to create a more sustainable and accessible urban transport system. It intends to prioritise public transport and active transport modes such as walking and cycling, while private motorised transport remains at the current level (2020 level). By 2035, the plan aims to achieve a modal share of 51% for public and active transport, with individual car use limited to 49%.

To achieve this, the plan is structured around five main objectives:

1. Regional and Cross-Regional Accessibility: The plan aims to improve public transport connections both within the city and with neighbouring regions. It focuses on optimising transport hubs and the city’s cycle path network, ensuring a seamless transition between regional and urban transport options.
2. Ensuring Development Perspectives: The goal is to support the urban development of Luxembourg by improving public transport and soft mobility options. This includes improving road infrastructure where possible, ensuring that all neighbourhoods have accessible transport, and facilitating connectivity between different transport modes.
3. Mobility for All: The plan places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, ensuring access to transport for all residents regardless of age, social status, or income. This includes expanding public spaces for people with reduced mobility and optimising existing multi-user transport options.
4. Preserving and Improving Quality of Life: A key objective is to reduce traffic in residential areas in order to improve public spaces and promote sustainable mobility. This includes the design of new neighbourhoods with innovative mobility concepts, such as car-free residential zones.
5. Environmental Protection and Sustainability: The plan aims to promote low-emission and zero-emission modes of transport, with a focus on improving road safety and reducing the negative health impacts of pollution. It also aims to optimise the use of urban space by promoting alternative modes of transport.

Background and Development

The “Mobilitéitsplang” was launched in response to Luxembourg City’s rapidly growing population and the increasing demands on its mobility infrastructure. By 2035, the city expects a 46% increase in population and a 30% increase in employment, putting immense pressure on the existing transport system. Additionally, environmental concerns and the need for equitable access to mobility prompted the development of this comprehensive plan. Aligned with national strategies such as the National Mobility Plan (“Plan National de Mobilité” (PNM 2035)), the plan seeks to create a sustainable and accessible transport network.

Work began in 2021 and followed four phases. Phase 1: Preparation and Analysis included a detailed assessment of the current transport infrastructure, identifying key weaknesses such as road congestion and gaps in the cycling network. Phase 2: Mission Statement and Scenarios set out specific goals to guide future development, including reducing car dependency and improving public and active transport. In Phase 3: Strategies and Actions defined specific measures to improve urban mobility such as expanding the tram network and introducing bike-only lanes. Phase 4: Roadmap and Evaluation outlined the steps for implementation and created a framework for monitoring progress.

Citizen engagement was essential throughout the process, including a public launch event, an interim presentation of the study and objectives as well as an outreach event in the city centre in 2022. Latter allowed citizens to interact with city authorities, share ideas, and contribute to shaping future transportation strategies. The final mobility plan was presented on 27 June 2024, followed by a discussion between politicians, mobility experts and the public.

Measures and Actions

The “Mobilitéitsplang” is based on a thorough analysis of the current transport system of the city of Luxembourg, identifying challenges such as road congestion, close the gaps in the cycle network , and the need to improve public transport connections. Based on this assessment, several future transport scenarios were developed to anticipate the impact of population growth and increased travel demand up to 2035. These scenarios explore how different measures – such as expanding the tram and bus networks, building dedicated bike lanes, and improving pedestrian infrastructure – will shape the city’s mobility landscape. This includes three base scenarios, one “Planning Scenario” showcasing the impact of improving public transport in a sustainable manner and a “Preferential/Target Scenario for 2035”.

The analysis and the scenarios pointed out the future mobility needs of the city of Luxembourg. Accordingly, six action areas were identified:

• Active/soft mobility (walking and cycling) focuses on strategies for cyclists and pedestrians. While concrete initiatives will promote cycling through infrastructure development, pedestrian mobility will be approached more strategically, with specific initiatives to be developed and implemented over time.
• Public transport (local/regional) is a key element of the plan. Public transport needs to be expanded to meet the growing demand for mobility. Key initiatives include making the city’s public transport networks more efficient, optimising coordination between different systems and providers, and ensuring a high quality of service for passengers. The tram will form the backbone of urban public transport on the main axes and the city’s AVL buses will take over the fine distribution in and between the neighbourhoods.
• Motor traffic addresses road traffic and parking management. The focus is on developing a functional core road network, managing traffic flows in residential areas, and using parking regulations as a tool to manage motor traffic, making efficient use of public space.
• Innovative mobility emphasises mixed modalities and innovative solutions to minimise car journeys and maximise space efficiency. It promotes the introduction of sharing services and ensures the provision of charging infrastructure for e-mobility.
• Commerce/ Economy assesses whether the mobility needs of businesses and industry are sufficiently met by other action areas, and exploring additional strategies to ensure the smooth operation of commercial activities.
• Transport system and mobility management addresses two objectives: ensuring efficient use of infrastructure through traffic management, particularly during disruptions, and influencing individual mobility behaviour through targeted information campaigns and awareness-raising to encourage more sustainable travel choices.

To ensure the successful implementation of the action areas, the Mobility Plan outlines a monitoring and evaluation system. Regular assessments using mobility data indicators will ensure that public transport, cycling, and pedestrian strategies are effectively implemented and adapted to new challenges. Looking ahead to 2050, the plan also includes long-term development perspectives, focusing on sustained investment in sustainable transport and the integration of innovative mobility solutions to meet future demands.

Outlook

Luxembourg’s “Mobilitéitsplang” lays a solid foundation for tackling the city’s mobility challenges by 2035, but its scope extends beyond this timeline, preparing for continued growth until 2050. The need for sustainable mobility solutions will become even more important as the population and employment are expected to increase significantly, particularly in Luxembourg City and its surrounding areas. The plan anticipates denser urban development, an increasing demand for green spaces, and the need to minimise car traffic. Strategies such as expanding public transport, promoting active travel, and discouraging unnecessary commuting will be key to managing future traffic congestion. In addition, innovative solutions, such as co-working spaces and new tram connections, will ensure that Luxembourg’s transport network can accommodate growing demand, making it a resilient and adaptable city in the long term.

Contact

City of Luxembourg: mobiliteitsplang@vdl.lu

References

City of Luxembourg – Our Mobility Plan for Tomorrow (English, French, German): https://www.vdl.lu/en/getting-around/our-mobility-plan-tomorrow

Interactive brochure and download of the Mobility Plan (English, French, German): https://www.vdl.lu/en/getting-around/notre-plan-de-mobilite-pour-demain/mobility-plan

Record of the final presentation of the Mobility Plan (English interpretation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOR44Ozms5s