With the further development of the "Standardized evaluation of transport infrastructure investments in local public transport", the federal government has changed the evaluation criteria for the funding of local public transport projects. This also applies to the "Stadt-Umland-Bahn" streetcar project, which was one of twelve selected sample projects to undergo a test calculation for the federal government. The result: the benefit-cost indicator (NKI) of 1.1 determined in 2019 for the preferred route has increased to a provisional value of 2.2. This means that the "StUB" project is now well above the minimum value of 1.0 for federal funding. "This is very good news for our three cities and the region. With this NKI, funding and financing for the StUB would be secured. The results confirm our conviction that the Stadt-Umland-Bahn is the right impulse for the transport turnaround and a significant contribution to climate protection in the region. We are on the right track," says Dr. Florian Janik, Chairman of the Zweckverband Stadt-Umland-Bahn. Optimizations of the route, which have been made since 2019, and an extension through the Schwabach Valley ("eastern branch") have not yet been taken into account in the assessment.

Requirement from the regional planning procedure

The current route of the Stadt-Umland-Bahn from Nuremberg via Erlangen to Herzogenaurach is based on the so-called preferred route, which was assessed as spatially compatible in the 2020 regional planning procedure. One sensitive area of this route is the crossing of the Erlangen Regnitzgrund at the level of the Wöhrmühlinsel. Alternative crossings in the area of the existing dams "Büchenbacher Damm" and "Dechsendorfer Damm" were assessed at the time by the government of Middle Franconia as the responsible state planning authority as "very likely [to be] uneconomical". However, if the assessment basis were to change, the alternatives would also have to be reconsidered.

Effects on alternative crossings

"We promised to take another close look at the alternative crossings in the area of the two existing dams when updating the benefit-cost analysis. We are now keeping this promise. We have therefore also had these variants calculated," says Mandy Guttzeit, Managing Director of ZV StUB.

The basis for this is again the planning status from 2019. With an expected value of 1.7 in each case, the NKI for a crossing in the "Büchenbacher Damm" and "Dechsendorfer Damm" areas would now also be significantly higher than 1.0. This means that these solutions would also be eligible for funding. "Since 2019, the framework conditions for the StUB have changed in many places. These values should therefore only be regarded as initial approximations. In order to be able to make a reliable statement, we are now resuming the investigations for an alternative crossing. However, as the 'Dechsendorfer Damm' option has always been ranked behind the 'Büchenbacher Damm' alternative in the planning process and we still see no potential for improvement, we are not considering this crossing option any further for the time being so as not to significantly delay the planning," explains Dr. Stefan Opheys, Technical Director of the Stadt-Umland-Bahn special purpose association.


Bridge at the level of the Wöhrmühlinsel offers the greatest advantages

In addition to the NKI, the known advantages and disadvantages of the individual variants also play an important role in the assessment. While the significantly longer route via the "Büchenbacher Damm" offers greater accessibility and has less impact on the landscape in the Regnitzgrund, a bridge at the level of the Wöhrmühlinsel offers in particular the greatest shift from car traffic to public transport as well as significant improvements for the bus network from the west of Erlangen to the city center. This bridge would also offer the shortest travel time. "The StUB is an environmentally friendly and, in particular, efficient transport alternative for our region. However, for the large number of commuters, as we also have in Herzogenaurach, it is particularly attractive if you can simply get from A to B quickly with the StUB," says Dr. German Hacker, First Mayor of Herzogenaurach. In order not to worsen the travel time for passengers to and from Herzogenaurach compared to the currently planned route, the "Büchenbacher Damm" variant is therefore being examined with the so-called "Büchenbacher Spange". This is a second branch in the west of Erlangen, which is routed south of Büchenbach via the "Adenauerring" and via which a direct connection to Herzogenaurach would be possible.

The calculation of the NKI now also takes into account the CO2 emissions from route and vehicle construction. "This value should also only be seen as a rough estimate, as without a final planning status, only average values for engineering structures such as bridges can be taken into account. But what we can already say at this point: The production of cars that would be needed per year without the StUB is expected to emit twice as much CO2 as the construction of the StUB - converted to years of use. Added to this are the savings made by shifting car traffic to public transport during operation. Initial calculations have shown a payback period of probably well under 20 years," explains Daniel Große-Verspohl, Commercial Director of the ZV StUB.


The next steps

In the coming weeks and months, the ZV StUB will carry out a feasibility study for a crossing of the Regnitzgrund in the area of the "Büchenbacher Dam". The results should be available by the end of the year. The aim is to weigh up the respective advantages and disadvantages of the two options on the basis of the findings in order to be able to make a final decision on the crossing. In addition, more reliable benefit-cost indicators are to be determined for the various scenarios and the effects of the Standardized Assessment 2016+ on the eastern branch are to be examined.

In the meantime, planning for the current route will continue, with the section from Nuremberg to Erlangen station being prioritized.

Effects on the time horizon

Due to the renewed examination of a route with a crossing of the Regnitzgrund in the area of the "Büchenbacher Dam", the ZV StUB has updated the timetable for the project. According to the current status, the documents for the planning approval procedure are to be submitted from 2025. Construction could then begin in sections from Nuremberg from mid-2028. Gradual commissioning should then take place from 2031. A decision against the crossing at Wöhrmühlinsel would postpone the expected start of construction by at least three years.

In dialog

On Wednesday evening, 22 March 2023, the Zweckverband Stadt-Umland-Bahn presented the effects of the Standardized Assessment 2016+ on the streetcar project to the public in the Heinrich-Lades-Halle in Erlangen. More than 200 citizens and representatives of associations and organizations took part in the information event on site and via livestream.

An interim update will be presented on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. At the 13th Dialogue Forum, the ZV StUB invites you to a joint dialog on open questions. Further information on the event will be announced shortly.

Mandy Guttzeit, Daniel Große-Verspohl and Dr. Stefan Opheys will answer general questions about the Stadt-Umland-Bahn once a month during the "Digital Question Time". The next appointment will take place on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, from 7 pm to 8 pm.

The special-purpose association Stadt-Umland-Bahn

The Zweckverband Stadt-Umland-Bahn (ZV StUB), with its office in Erlangen, is responsible for the planning, construction and operation of the StUB. The members of the ZV StUB are the three cities of
Nuremberg, Erlangen and Herzogenaurach. The current chairman of the association is Dr. Florian Janik, Lord Mayor of Erlangen. The Stadt-Umland-Bahn is currently one of the largest streetcar projects in Germany. Over a 26-kilometre route, the StUB will connect Nuremberg, Erlangen and Herzogenaurach every 10 minutes.

The 2016+ standardized assessment

Since 2022, a new version ("2016+") of the "Standardized Assessment of Transport Infrastructure Investments in Local Public Transport" (ÖPNV) has been the basis for demonstrating economic viability in accordance with the German Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG). This provides basic evaluation criteria that are decisive for federal funding of local public transport projects. The aim of the federal government is to pave the way for more public transport projects in order to drive forward the transport transition.