Public transport stops: State wants to ensure accessibility

Social affairs - Public transport stops: State wants to ensure accessibility

Brandenburg's Transport Ministry aims to raise awareness for accessibility within the construction sector. A training session for responsible employees at the State Building and Transport Authority is planned for this year, a spokesperson for the Ministry stated in response to an inquiry. This training will focus on the technical requirements of accessibility. Accessibility is a special concern for the Ministry.

Furthermore, resources for expanding barrier-free railway stations have been continuously developed, the spokesperson explained. Financial support for municipalities in expanding accessibility has been significantly increased. Around eleven million Euros were available for investments in accessibility, environmental protection, and the transportation turnaround last year. This year, it is planned to be approximately 21 million Euros.

Besides public transportation, the state supports municipal authorities in implementing an attractive transportation offer based on the Public Transportation Act, taking into account the specific needs of people with mobility restrictions. Buses, U-Bahns, and streetcars in public transportation should be accessible since the beginning of 2022 – everywhere in Germany. This is required by the Passenger Transport Act. However, accessibility in public transportation is not yet regulated in many places.

"In Germany, there is often a lack of barrier-free, inclusive transportation offers," it was stated in a position paper from the associations for people with disabilities at the beginning of June. Many people with disabilities are therefore unable to use public transportation due to the nature and severity of their disabilities – including in Brandenburg. This is noticeable, for example, with school children with disabilities: Specialized transportation services are often used for trips to special schools or workshops for disabled people. There is an urgent need for improvement in this area.

For regional rail (S-Bahn), the state bears the responsibility, while for other public transportation like buses and streetcars, the counties and city-states are responsible.

1. The Ministry of Transport in Brandenburg, focusing on Potsdam, recognizes the importance of accessibility, particularly for individuals with disabilities, in the realm of social affairs in Germany.
2. To enhance road traffic safety and promote accessibility, the Ministry of Transport in Brandenburg plans to organize a workshop on traffic management for responsible officials in Brandenburg's Accessibility and Transport Authority.
3. The Ministry of Transport in Brandenburg, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, has published guidelines to ensure accessibility compliance in all new construction projects, following the example set by Potsdam.
4. The Ministry of Transport in Brandenburg, recognizing the necessity for improved accessibility in rural areas of Brandenburg, has earmarked funds for traffic infrastructure upgrades, aiming to make transportation more inclusive for the residents of Brandenburg and Germany as a whole.

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