Private transport in Vienna
Vienna's road network consists of currently 6,479 roads with a total length of 2,793 kilometres. 47 kilometres are motorway. Each citizen covers a distance of approximately 18 kilometres per day, which makes a total of 27.2 million kilometres daily for all inhabitants.
Recent years have seen a marked increase in motorised private transport in Vienna. Extension of the public transport network and introduction of short-term parking zones to districts inside the Gürtel (districts 1 to 9) have counteracted this development, resulting in a shift of traffic volume. While the average traffic load has dropped in some areas inside the Gürtel traffic continues to increase in districts outside and on the city motorways. The Südosttangente (A 23) is Vienna's most frequented road with 210,000 motor vehicles per day. Traffic jams are an inevitable consequence, as they are on other main routes in Vienna.
To improve the traffic situation and raise people's safety a number of measures are needed. Low-noise road surfaces and noise protection walls are thought to contribute towards reducing noise. 30 kilometres speed limits are introduced to many areas in an effort to calm traffic. Various structural measures, such as widening of pavements, raising road surfaces at crossings and separating lanes are to provide additional safety for pedestrians.
Projects for traffic development in the coming 20 years were defined in the Vienna Transport Master Plan 2003. Traffic policies set out in the Master Plan are based on sustainability, effectiveness, acceptance, cooperation and innovation. Main emphasis of these projects is placed on securing Vienna as a business location, especially since the EU accession of neighbouring countries to the east. Vienna's high living standards are to be maintained at the same time.
The general objective is to raise the share of public transport in overall traffic. The Transport Master Plan envisages an increase in public transport from 34 to 40 percent. Private motorised transport is to be reduced to 25 percent.
© Photo: A. Piegler
© wien.at: Vienna City Administration, Rathaus, A-1082 Wien