U-Bahn-U3 extension: cost explosion and resistance on the Mexicoplatz!

U-Bahn-U3 extension: cost explosion and resistance on the Mexicoplatz!

Mexikoplatz, Berlin, Deutschland - A planned extension of the U3 subway line in Berlin faces an uncertain future. The citizens' initiative "Rettet the Mexicoplatz" has commissioned a new report, which considerably questioned the originally estimated costs of 103 million euros for the 800 meter long route. According to the report of the “Interlink” mobility counseling, the actual cost burden could be around 300 million euros, which endangers the financing by the federal government, since funding only takes place if the benefit exceeds the costs. Der Bund ist daher skeptisch, ob eine Unterstützung möglich ist, da die bisherigen Schätzungen den Nutzen nicht ausreichend belegen, wie der Tagesspiegel reported.

The citizens' initiative not only criticizes the high costs, but also the feared negative effects on the environment and the quality of life in the region. The extension is viewed as a costly prestige project by the Berlin Senate and the BVG, which harms more than benefits. The initiative suggests that public funds prefer to invest in the improvement of the existing infrastructure instead of a project that may only lead to small additional passenger numbers. The forecasts indicate that the U3 extension would only bring 1,300 new passengers a day, while 90% of the passengers would only change from bus to train, as carried out on Rettet-den--mexikoplatz.de.

environmental impacts and historical concerns

The residents are concerned about the negative effects of the construction project on the city climate and nature. The subway extension would fell at least 175 trees and endanger the historical cityscape on the Mexicoplatz. In addition, it is expected that noise, dust and additional traffic will significantly impair the quality of life of the residents during the construction period.

The report criticizes the earlier benefit-cost investigation (NKU) and describes it as incorrect and unrealistic. While the BVG continues to adhere to this investigation and evaluates the overall benefits of the U3 extension as higher than the costs, the residents doubt the advantages. Some of them are already considering legal steps against the planning approval decision.

Criticism of the planning and future prospects

The citizens' initiative calls for a transparent presentation of the actual costs, which is supported by various politicians, including the Green State Chairman. In addition, the concerns regarding a lack of traffic concept are not unfounded. The discussion about a better connection of the Berlin southwest of Zehlendorf and the adjacent Brandenburg communities remains unsolved, since the U3 extension only leads to Kleinmachnow and is therefore considered inadequate.

Overall, the U3 extension is considered disproportionate in terms of their expense and the expected benefits. Experts consider the targeted construction period of five years to be unrealistic, especially based on experiences with comparable projects. The bus connection between "Krumme Lanke" and the S-Bahnhof Mexicoplatz, which only takes two minutes, would only minimally shorten the subway extension, which underlines the questionability of the entire project.