Traffic information board unveiled in Jena

Today, Thursday, an information board displaying traffic and environmental data was put into operation on Stadtrodaer Straße in Lobeda-Ost. Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Mayor Christian Gerlitz, Plant Manager KommunalService Jena (KSJ) Uwe Feige and Project Manager Christopher Helbig unveiled the board.

This symbolically marked the completion of the UVM (Environmentally Oriented Traffic Management) funding project.

The result of complex work

Since 2018, the traffic light systems in Jena have been continuously equipped to record traffic data. A central computer evaluates this data and adjusts the traffic light circuits. In addition, several new interfaces have been developed and a traffic management system set up that uses the traffic situation model to calculate traffic forecasts and traffic trends. The aim is to stabilize and liquefy traffic and thus avoid emission-intensive driving conditions. These measures were flanked by the installation of a dynamic parking guidance system, which has been curbing search traffic in the city center since 2020.

These projects were made possible by funding from the state of Thuringia. The Ministry of the Environment contributed 2.4 million euros from ERDF funds for implementation. The city of Jena contributed 2.35 million euros.

51 traffic light systems were completely renewed or reconstructed, 4 larger systems are still being upgraded and adjustments are still being made to some smaller systems. Over 250 induction loops were installed throughout the city for measurement purposes.

About the traffic information board

This displays traffic information and environmental data at a central entry point in Stadtrodaer Straße, near Salvador-Allende-Platz. This includes free parking spaces in the city area, the travel time to the city center based on the actual traffic load, the air quality index, the temperature as well as special traffic conditions such as traffic jams, closures and current detour.

The measured air quality index is also displayed. This is calculated from carbon monoxide, humidity, hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, air pressure and temperature. The values come from the measuring stations in Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Lutherstraße, Magdelstieg and Hermann-Löns-Straße.

Anja Siegesmund, Thuringian Minister for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation(link is external):
"Cleaner air, less noise and a better quality of life - intelligent traffic control protects people's health in densely built-up inner cities and reduces the number of vehicles in line with demand. This is a small piece of the mosaic in the big picture of the traffic turnaround and a good start, which we are happy to support. However, further efforts must now follow to ensure that a genuine transport transition for more climate protection also succeeds in Jena."

On behalf of the city of Jena, Lord Mayor Thomas Nitzsche expresses his thanks to the funding providers:
"Jena is urgently reliant on commuters from the surrounding area. We are aware of the difficulties associated with this traffic. Despite efforts to make local public transport more attractive, individual vehicles will remain the first choice for many people. I am therefore very pleased that we are increasingly succeeding in influencing traffic flows better and preventing unnecessary stops with environmentally-oriented traffic management. Thanks to generous funding from the state of Thuringia, we were able to make the necessary investments. My sincere thanks for this."

Mayor Christian Gerlitz said:
"The sustainable dimension of the project is important to me. Jena has the goal of being climate-neutral by 2035. Reducing vehicle emissions also plays an important role here. The scheduled implementation of the project by Kommunalservice Jena will enable improvements in daily traffic. I am convinced that progress in the control system will gradually become noticeable here."