Urban transport planning, a tradition from the 1960s, has been common in most German cities. Today, these plans have evolved into Verkehrsentwicklungsplaene (VEP), serving as the cornerstone for most decisions on the development of transport infrastructure and management decision-making processes.

VEPs adapt to the changing urban landscape by increasingly integrating all modes of transport within a city and its neighbourhoods. This forward-thinking approach is also reflected in the inclusion of elements from Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in most VEPs, despite other planning documents with different objectives.

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) supports the transition towards sustainable and low-emission mobility in municipalities, cities, and districts. The program “nachhaltig. mobil. planen.” contributes to increasing environmentally friendly transport options and shifting the modal split in favor of eco-friendly transportation.

Since 2023, as part of a new federal program, the BMDV has been supporting municipalities in developing or revising Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in accordance with EU Commission guidelines and implementing accompanying measures.

The first call for funding applications for sustainable mobility concepts was announced in September 2023 and received great interest. A total of 17 projects were funded, amounting to approximately €5.2 million. Kiel, Nagold, Regensburg, Augsburg, Frankfurt am Main, Kaiserslautern, and Zwickau were among the benefiting cities.