Steering point Karlsgraben

Brief info

• Project: Marking and signage
• Goal: Safe and sustainable inner-city mobility
• Project phase: implemented, remaining work open

Current

On January 17, 2025, six information boards were erected on Graben- and Alleenring indicating the changed traffic routing at the steering point. The website innenstadtmobilitaet-morgen.de/ was updated. Since Dec. 2024, Stadtnavi Aachen has offered a routing tool that takes into account the current roadworks.

Map

New traffic regulations in the western city center

With the completion of the current marking and signage measures, the traffic routing in the western city center will change. The task and aim of the measure is to shift through traffic on this section of Grabenring to Alleenring and thus make the situation more relaxed for all remaining road users. All roads in the area shown in purple are accessible to all road users with a motor vehicle without a special permit via Königstraße, Vaalser-/Jakobstraße and Lochnerstraße in the middle.

All roads in the area shown in orange are accessible to all road users with a motor vehicle without a special permit via Vaalserstrasse/Jakobstrasse and Karmeliterstrasse and the roads in between. From Jakobstraße in the direction of the city center, it is still permitted to drive straight ahead, to the right and to the left. The following driving options will change:

• Coming from Alexianergraben or Löhergraben, you can only turn left at Jakobstraße.
• Coming from Templergraben or Karlsgraben, you can only turn right at Jakobstraße.

The new "Innenstadtnavi" Aachen city center navigation system at https://zukunftsrouting.aachen.de/ provides information on all permitted travel options through this intervention

These restrictions do not apply to emergency vehicles, scheduled services, delivery traffic and cabs. For many people who travel to and through Aachen by car, the change will mean a change of routine. The most important points are clearly explained using slides in the audio presentation available here.

On Löhergraben, a delivery and loading zone will also be set up directly in front of the junction with Jakobstraße, as well as the first of a total of 16 parking spaces for e-scooters that have been politically approved. Two further parking spaces for e-scooters will be created on Karlsgraben and Templergraben. It has been agreed with the scooter rental companies that e-scooters can no longer be parked next to these parking spaces. This regulation is to be implemented in the course of September.

Exemptions

There are exemptions for social services, delivery traffic and trades, as well as in specially justified individual cases.

Regulation for social services

From now on, social services can apply for a parking permit as well as an exemption to drive through at control points. The exemption will be granted if the social services confirm that they need to care for people in adjacent development areas. The costs for parking permits and exemptions are to be set at 155 euros per year for one vehicle in the city of Aachen. In future, the parking permit will cost 120 euros and the exemption permit 35 euros per year. At present, social services in the city of Aachen have to pay a fee of 155 euros per year per vehicle just for the parking permit. In future, the parking permit will only cost 120 euros. The city assumes that social services will become even more involved in neighborhood planning when designing their routes on the basis of the new cost calculation.

Exceptions for delivery traffic and trade 

In addition, craft businesses have the option of obtaining a special permit to drive through the control points in the city center in the event of an emergency. To do so, businesses must describe typical emergency situations in a simple procedure. As with the social services, applications for tradesmen's parking permits and exemptions can be combined if desired. The exemption permit costs 35 euros per year. Craftsman parking permits currently cost 120 euros per year per vehicle.

Regulations for specially justified individual cases

There are also special regulations for other applicants. For example, residents and people with restricted mobility must state special reasons in an informal application in order to obtain a special permit. The following applies to all permits: Passage at the control points should be limited as far as possible. The permit is issued for one year. The application must be resubmitted after one year. The administration will then re-examine the legal requirements existing at the time of the application and the local conditions with regard to the exemption permit.

Public transport, cabs, bicycle traffic and e-scooters are given free passage via additional signage at the control points. Special vehicles such as refuse collection, street cleaning, fire departments on duty, the police, the German Armed Forces, the Federal Police, civil protection and customs services have special rights in accordance with Section 35 of the Road Traffic Regulations, irrespective of the signage. A special regulation is therefore not necessary.

Applications can be submitted immediately at: ausnahmegenehmigungen@mail.aachen.de

Overall concept "Inner-city mobility for tomorrow" - A joint plan!

The Karlsgraben control point is a measure of the overall concept "City center mobility for tomorrow", which was adopted by the Aachen City Council in Dec. 2023. The overall concept aims to ensure that the city center can be reached safely and safely by all means of transport. The specific objectives of the overall concept were formulated as follows The city center should be easily accessible. Interaction in road traffic should be considerate and relaxed. People should be able to live quietly in the city center and enjoy being together. In addition to making car traffic compatible with the city, pedestrian, bicycle and bus traffic should be strengthened as an environmental network and the quality of life in the city center should be improved. Ultimately, the aim is to be more considerate of one another, to network mobility options and to make urban traffic climate-neutral.

The overall concept is explained here: www.innenstadtmobilitaet-morgen.de. The concept is explained particularly vividly in a "scrollytelling" with four people and their paths in Aachen here.

For many people who travel to and through Aachen by car, the change means getting used to a new way of life. That's why the administration provided information about the "City center mobility for tomorrow" concept and the new traffic routing at the Karlsgraben control point in a digital event: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvKa-Vqo3dM. 

What does the measure cost?

The Karlsgraben control point mainly involved marking and signage measures. In Karlsgraben, the road surface was also coated in red epoxy resin. In addition, parking spaces for e-scooters and parking facilities for (cargo) bicycles were created. The commissioned work has a volume of around 230,000 euros.

Website

https://innenstadtmobilitaet-morgen.de/

Council info template