“Mainz does not rely on ready-made solutions ‘imposed from above,’ but rather on dialogue, transparency, and collaborative planning.”

With the official presentation of the final report to Mayor Nino Haase on May 12, 2026, the work of the Advisory Board (IB) on the subproject “M for Future: My Tram City—Heiligkreuz District and University Hospital” came to a close. During a ceremony at Stadthaus, Mayor Nino Haase, Director of Mobility Janina Steinkrüger, and MVG Managing Director Florian Wiesemann recognized the members’ volunteer efforts and the close collaboration among all participants from the city administration and Mainzer Mobilität.

Mayor Nino Haase thanked the representatives of the Citizens’ Advisory Board for their commitment, noting that the tram expansion is not merely a matter of infrastructure but rather an urban development project: “Today, it’s not just about a new tram line, but about how Mainz will grow together in the future. That’s why citizen participation is an expression of modern urban policy—Mainz doesn’t rely on ready-made solutions ‘from above,’ but on genuine dialogue, transparency, and collaborative planning.” According to Haase, numerous perspectives were incorporated into the process—interested citizens, residents, and advocacy groups all maintained a constant exchange of ideas. Haase: “Citizens were able to actively shape the process from the very beginning—and they made intensive use of this opportunity digitally, in person, and over an extended period of time. Today, the advisory board presented its recommendations—and for that, I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved.”

In its final report, the Advisory Board recommends a preferred option for the future tram route, which consists of three central sections:

• Main Station West – Am Linsenberg – Langenbeckstraße – Philippsschanze – An der Goldgrube
• Hechtsheimer Straße – Alte Mainzer Straße – Weisenauer Weg – Am Alten Wasserwerk – Bodenheimer Straße – Auf dem Hewwel–Am Kühborn to Zur Laubenheimer Höhe/K13 (south of the planned He 130 development area)
• Am Stiftswingert – Göttelmannstraße – Heiligkreuzweg (to Max-Hufschmidt-Straße)

In the committee’s assessment, this route offers the greatest development potential while simultaneously causing comparatively minimal impact on the environment and existing infrastructure. The decision was based on an intensive evaluation process in which potential benefits and risks were systematically weighed against one another. 

In the event that the recommended preferred option proves unfeasible during the further planning process, the Advisory Committee also identifies supplementary route options, which have been ranked in order of priority and can be included as alternatives in further evaluations.

“For our company, the Advisory Board’s final report serves as an important foundation for further planning. It brings together the perspectives of the city’s residents and provides valuable insights for the next planning steps and the technical evaluation of the possible route options,” says MVG Managing Director Florian Wiesemann.

The Advisory Board was the central element of a comprehensive public participation process voluntarily initiated by the state capital of Mainz and Mainzer Mobilität. Since June 2024, the 20 members—including citizens and representatives of various interest groups—have worked on developing a viable recommendation through a total of eleven meetings, site visits, and expert discussions.

The committee’s work was based on broad participation from the city’s community: Citizens have been able to contribute through various formats since March 30, 2023. It began with a digital kick-off event and an initial round of digital engagement. This was followed by an in-person “theme market,” several thematic workshops, and a second round of digital engagement. All feedback was systematically evaluated and incorporated into the advisory board’s deliberations. 

Janina Steinkrüger, Head of the Mobility Department, highlights the outstanding commitment of the Advisory Board: “The members have invested a great deal of time and dedication into this participatory process. Through their volunteer work, they are contributing to the future of our city and making an important contribution to strengthening eco-friendly transportation. We gratefully accept the final report today; the points raised will form the basis of our further work toward identifying a preferred option, with the goal of presenting it to the political bodies for a decision.”

The presentation of the final report marked the highlight of a ceremony at Stadthaus, where all participants were thanked for their commitment in the presence of the press. Following this, Mainzer Mobilität organized a special closing event: During a joint special tram ride, organized by the Traditionsbus Mainz e. V. association, members of the Advisory Board, along with project participants from Mainzer Mobilität and the city administration of Mainz, the state capital, came together in a relaxed atmosphere.

Over “Weck, Worscht un Woi” (bread rolls, sausage, and wine), the two-year collaboration was celebrated, and the participatory process was brought to a close in a more informal setting. The submission of the final report marks the end of the Advisory Board’s work. The committee’s recommendation will now be technically reviewed by the city administration and Mainzer Mobilität and incorporated into political deliberations. 

In the next step, the Mainz City Council will review the results. The goal is to anchor the results of the public participation process in policy and to set a general direction for the new tram connection between the University Hospital and the Heiligkreuz neighborhood. This does not yet entail a final decision on a specific preferred option. The Mainz City Council will make that decision at a later date. Only on this basis will the approved route be further developed, comprehensively reviewed, and elaborated in detail as part of the design and approval planning for the planning permission application.

Further information on the tram expansion / Subproject 3 is available at www.m-wie-zukunft.de/teilprojekt3-hkv-uniklinik-rueckblick (opens in a new tab)