By signing the statutes of the special-purpose association, the partners are demonstrating their ability to act in difficult times and are implementing a mandate from the district council and the committees of all neighboring municipalities from 2019: Despite a tight budget situation and changing priorities in times of pandemic, the partners are sticking to the project, which is expected to result in a significant shift in traffic to rail transport. Against this backdrop, the project partners agreed that many of the political loops of recent years have been worthwhile, as there is now a consensus that has been accepted by all partners.
The next steps in the light rail project are negotiations with Deutsche Bahn (DB) regarding the Markgröninger Bahn. In addition to the reactivation route, extensive coordination talks are currently being held with the State Ministry of Transport to ensure that the light rail system as a whole is eligible for funding. Combination possibilities in the new GVFG federal funding law and state funding law are being examined in order to keep the municipal share of co-financing low. A new standardized assessment for the entire network will form the basis for the approval of the funding application. The immediate next step is the invitation to tender for planning services, which is of central importance for the project. A personnel selection process has been launched to fill the position of managing director of the special-purpose association.
