Transportation Policy Effectiveness

Government frameworks and policies have influence over people's travel choices. If policies reflect the use and support of public transit and the systems are more accessible, people are going to be more inclined to use it.

Take Freiburg for example.

Federal and State Level Policy

Federal policies in Germany that enable sustainable forms of transit such as walking, biking, and public transit among populations:

  • Taxes that make car use more expensive than tram use

        • Environmental tax reform 1999-2003-Gasoline tax increased by 75 U.S. cents per gallon

  • Federal funding towards transit investment

        • Railway subsidies alone amounted to €17.0 billion in 2014

In 2018, the German government announced to make public transportation free as an incentive for citizens to drive cars on the road less. This policy's intention was to reduce road traffic and decrease air pollution. It was adopted by five German cities in Germany- Freiburg was not included among these five cities because ticket costs are a main source of revenue for the city. However, this can still be used as an example of Federal efforts to support transportation policies in Germany.

The federal government also provides subsidies for local transit efforts. Around 60% of the cost of local rail transit is covered by these subsidies. Along with government subsidized transit, companies such as VAG (Freiburger Verkehrs AG) in Freiburg link together transit options for people that are often cost efficient and easily accessible.

Most policies related to transit in Germany are developed at a local level. In Freiburg, there has been years of policy implementation and regulation that is responsible for the notable mobility model that exists today.

On a local level Freiburg:

  • Has funds for walking and cycling infrastructure

  • Cooperates with land-use planning

  • Has environmentally conscious leaders

  • Supports Eco-industry within the city (+10,000 jobs)

  • Focuses on citizen participation/active democracy


Freiburg traffic concept : In 1989 the “city of short distances” transport policy was implemented to make environmentally friendly modes of transport more accessible. Since then, road traffic has decreased significantly and other modes of transport are preferred by the cities population. Freiburg has the most successful environmentally friendly transport planning policies and regulations in all of Germany.

Why Freiburg's Transportation Policy Works

Transportation policy in Freiburg has been effective because the approach they take focuses on active democracy enabling them to include a diverse group of stakeholders that support policy decisions. Active democracy includes direct citizen participation, inclusive planning efforts, and agreement among populations. This policy model has been effective for the city and has allowed them to develop sustainable plans effectively. Freiburg’s transport model is a perfect example of how German planning policy surpasses that of the US. Their model today includes in-depth plans for accessibility, incorporation of urban planning initiatives, limited car use through policy efforts that make room for alternative forms of transit, a dedicated city budget, and other sustainable solutions that have resulted from their focus on active democracy.

City officials and planners also have deep support for public transit. Sustainability is a culture for cities in Germany, not a mandated regulation that they are forced to comply with. The fact that people care about environmental sustainability makes these goals more achievable for cities like Freiburg. The transit system has been expanding for the past few decades and optimizing transit solutions is at the forefront of issues for not only the government, but the people of Freiburg as well. Today, 79% of all travel is made by bike, bus, train or on foot in Freiburg (see figure above). They are steadily moving towards achieving their goal of being a “city of short distances.”

What can Philadelphia Learn?

Philadelphia has much to learn from Freiburg's policy frameworks that have been in support of sustainable transit over the past 30 years. Freiburg's planning and policy has focused around transportation to create a "city of short distances." Policy has restricted car use and emphasized sustainable transit, which has been at the core of the cities sustainable mobility model from the beginning.

The Philadelphia Transportation Department could think about the key concepts that made Freiburg's mobility model possible:

  • Active citizen participation is imperative

  • Integrate land use policy and transit policy

  • Support from higher governmental officials is helpful

  • Policies must reflect long term impacts, not short term fixes