Wolfsburg reaches another milestone in the development of the city center! The central bus station (ZOB) is being comprehensively redesigned. In future, the ZOB is to become two central transfer points: the so-called "CityHub" near the current ZOB location and the "RegioHub" to the west of the main railway station.
Everything new at the northern end: as part of the redesign of the ZOB, several main concerns in the northern Porschestraße can be realized. We want...
... completely free the Nordkopf from motor vehicle and individual traffic.
... better connect the Designer Outlets Wolfsburg (DOW) to the city center.
... make the entire area more modern and greener.
This is what the "CityHub" offers:
The "CityHub" is being built near the current ZOB location, i.e. the northern Porschestraße. In future, there will only be eight instead of twelve bus platforms here. The "CityHub" will handle inner-city bus traffic.
This is what the "RegioHub" offers:
The "RegioHub" is being built to the west and in the immediate vicinity of the main railway station. This will be the hub for regional and national bus services.
At the next council meeting on December 10, the city administration would like to obtain a decision in principle for its ideas, on the basis of which concrete planning can then begin. With a decision in principle for the new planning of the ZOB, there will probably be numerous changes and adjustments at the Nordkopf.
Traffic at Nordkopf:
The streets "Willy-Brandt-Platz" and "An der Vorburg" are to be closed to car traffic and therefore no longer passable. The same will also apply to the northern Porschestraße and parts of Heßlinger Straße. The phaeno parking garage and the DOW will be connected from the east for car traffic. A mini-roundabout is to be built between the LSW Tower and Porschestraße 1 so that the WVG buses can be optimally deployed. The traffic concept is to be completely redesigned here.
Central station:
Despite the redesign of the traffic concept at Nordkopf, the main station will still be accessible by car from the east through the tunnel. The RegioHub will make the main station even more important for regional and supra-regional traffic. In addition, a so-called "Kiss & Ride" area for travelers will be set up at the station building.
Open space concept:
Following the decision in principle, the transport planning will be finalized. This will also enable a complete redesign of the open space concept. The aim is to make the best possible use of the resulting potential for climate protection, quality of stay and sustainable mobility. One thing is already clear: the Nordkopf will be greener and, above all, much more attractive for pedestrians as a "promenade" between the DOW and the city center
Supplementary mobility services:
Supplementary mobility services - such as sharing services and bicycle services - are also being examined and how they can best be integrated into the hubs. At the same time, coordination is underway with the Greater Braunschweig Regional Association regarding the adjustment of regional bus routes.
Further schedule:
The administration's proposal with the corresponding decision in principle now enters the political consultation phase. The city council will make a decision at its meeting on December 10. With the decision in principle, the administration can concretize the plans for the new ZOB.
25 November: Committee for Strategic Planning, Economy, Digitalization and Urban Development (Strategy Committee)
November 27: Planning and Building Committee
December 10: Wolfsburg City Council
Long lead time:
The plans for the conversion of the ZOB date back to 2007, when the first council resolution for a traffic concept for the Nordkopf was passed. Most recently, in 2023, a council resolution was passed to draw up a mobility concept and a traffic report for the development of the city center and in 2024 to draw up an urban development concept by the renowned Danish planning office Henning Larsen Architects.
The resulting proposals for the north head design resulted - after extensive adjustments, traffic simulations and feasibility studies - in the present decision in principle. The conversion and planning costs for this are expected to be up to ten million euros, 50 percent of which is likely to be eligible for funding. Further costs would arise from the redesign of the open spaces gained.