Last updated: October 2021
Since the mid-eighties, several German cities like Karlsruhe have been implementing green tram tracks, followed by a period of decline due to incompatibility with technical and construction requirements (Ref. 2). Since around 2003, the city of Karlsruhe has re-introduced the greening of tram tracks with the main objectives of noise reduction and cloudburst infiltration (climate adaptation). Mostly in combination with urban redevelopment projects, several tram tracks across Karlsruhe have been renewed and greened in different forms by using continuously advancing technologies (Ref. 3, 6 and 7).
Green Tram Tracks (2009)
Photographer: B. Habermann (IASP), retrieved 08/15/2018 from Hendrikje Schreiter
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Railroad bank and track greens
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Noise reduction
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
Noise reduction, local cooling effect, binding particulate matter (Ref. 6 and 7)
Improving the urban water cycle by reintroducing water into its natural cycle through evaporation of soil and plants (Ref. 2)
Creating buffer and sponge capacities/retention areas by increasing rainwater infiltration areas and delaying drainage during cloudbursts (Ref. 2 and 6)
Improving the quality of the city landscape and aesthetic appreciation (Ref. 7)
Increasing urban green spaces and creating habitat for flora and fauna (Ref. 2 and 6)
Implementation activities
The climate adaptation strategy of Karlsruhe mentions that green tram tracks are a convenient measure in cities like Karlsruhe where space is scarce and where there are limited options for creating urban greenspace areas. Usually, these projects are coupled with urban redevelopment, track upgrading or expansion projects (Ref. 6). In the documents, several implementations of green tram tracks were mentioned, both when constructing new lines or when upgrading tracks. Examples are the new Durlach-Aue/Wolfartsweier line constructed by the company rail.one with the RHEDA city green system in 2003 (Ref. 4) and the Nordstadt/Heide line reconstructed by the company TTK on a 3 kilometer length with 6 tram stops (including redevelopment) in 2005 (Ref. 1).
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The greening of the tracks is commissioned by the rail network company (VBK Vverkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe Gmbh). Documents were found that confirm that since 2003, several different engineering and infrastructure companies were commissioned to implement it, for instance the rail.one gmbh in 2003 with the implementation of the RHEDA city green system.
CITY GRÜN system, or a company called TTK in 2003 which was coupled with the regeneration of the tram stop area (Ref. 1 and 4). Initiating actors are both, the local government authorities (urban planning / transport) and the railway company (here indicated as public sector institution)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The integrated urban development concept of Karlsruhe (a spatial development plan) mandates the use of green tracks in noise hotspots of Karlsruhe (which were determine across the whole city) as a measure to reduce noise. These hotspots were identified and are now continuously being redeveloped (Ref. 7).)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Reduced noise exposure
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Transport Technologie- Consult Karlsruhe GmbH (2005) Straßenbahn Karlsruhe Nordstadt / Heide. Karlsruhe. Available at: Source link 7 Nov. 2020].
2. Glaser, O. and Schreiter, H. (2012) ‘Ein Netzwerk für Rasengleise. Forum für die Eindeckung von Straßenbahngleisen mit intensiver und extensiver Begrünung’, Der Nahverkehr, November. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 7 Nov. 2020].
3. Schweizer Rundfunk 2 (2015) Heißes Pflaster im Südwesten. Der Klimawandel verändert den Städtebau. [Weblink unavailable in 2020].
4. Source link gmbh (no date) ATD-G und RHEDA CITY GRÜN Die Grünen Gleise für den Nahverkehr. Neumarkt. Available at: Source link 7 Nov. 2020].
5. Grüngleisnetzwerk (2011) Grüngleisnetzwerk. Available at: Source link 7 Nov. 2020].
6. Stadt Karlsruhe Umwelt- und Arbeitsschutz (2013) ‘Anpassung an den Klimawandel. Bestandsaufnahme und Strategie für die Stadt Karlsruhe’. Karlsruhe: Stadt Karlsruhe, Umwelt- und Arbeitsschutz. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 7 Nov. 2020].
7. Fulda, C. and Miles, S. (2012) Karlsruhe 2020 : Integriertes Stadtentwicklungskonzept. Karlsruhe. Available at: Source link 7 Nov. 2020].
8. Karlsruher Liste. (2012). Einbau von Rasengleisen wo immer möglich. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 07 Nov. 2020].
2. Glaser, O. and Schreiter, H. (2012) ‘Ein Netzwerk für Rasengleise. Forum für die Eindeckung von Straßenbahngleisen mit intensiver und extensiver Begrünung’, Der Nahverkehr, November. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 7 Nov. 2020].
3. Schweizer Rundfunk 2 (2015) Heißes Pflaster im Südwesten. Der Klimawandel verändert den Städtebau. [Weblink unavailable in 2020].
4. Source link gmbh (no date) ATD-G und RHEDA CITY GRÜN Die Grünen Gleise für den Nahverkehr. Neumarkt. Available at: Source link 7 Nov. 2020].
5. Grüngleisnetzwerk (2011) Grüngleisnetzwerk. Available at: Source link 7 Nov. 2020].
6. Stadt Karlsruhe Umwelt- und Arbeitsschutz (2013) ‘Anpassung an den Klimawandel. Bestandsaufnahme und Strategie für die Stadt Karlsruhe’. Karlsruhe: Stadt Karlsruhe, Umwelt- und Arbeitsschutz. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 7 Nov. 2020].
7. Fulda, C. and Miles, S. (2012) Karlsruhe 2020 : Integriertes Stadtentwicklungskonzept. Karlsruhe. Available at: Source link 7 Nov. 2020].
8. Karlsruher Liste. (2012). Einbau von Rasengleisen wo immer möglich. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 07 Nov. 2020].