Private Transport Vehicle Fitted with Battery Power granted authorization for deployment in Marburg by RP Gießen

In a significant step towards a greener future, the Regional Council President, Dr. Christoph Ullrich, has presented the plan approval decision for the Battery Overhead Bus (BOB) project in Marburg to the city's Mayor, Dr. Thomas Spies, at the Marburg town hall.

The BOB project, an electric bus system where the bus's battery draws energy from an overhead line, is considered the most climate-friendly alternative for future operation of public transport up the Lahn mountains. With an investment volume of approximately 45 million euros, the project's infrastructure is set to include the construction of a 9.7-kilometer-long, two-lane, partial overhead line with over 800 overhead line masts and eight rectifier substations.

The planning approval decision for BOB Marburg was completed by the Gießen Regional Council less than two years after the application was submitted. The city of Marburg has been planning the procedure for BOB Marburg since 2021, and the necessary planning and investigation services were awarded after a Europe-wide tender in the same year.

However, a setback has occurred in the project's implementation. The federal government had initially funded the measure with around 1.8 million euros, but the funding has since been cancelled, making the project financially impossible without such external grants.

Mayor Spies proposes to wait for the renewal of the funding program within the special assets infrastructure fund at the federal level. The corresponding resolution is on the agenda of the first city council meeting after the summer break on August 29.

For those interested in staying updated on important news from the town hall and city life, subscribing to the newsletter of the University City of Marburg is recommended. Information on the development of the BOB project for Marburg can be found at www.bob-unsere-website.

The plan approval decision for BOB Marburg is valid for five years and can be extended by a further five years upon application. The conversion of bus lines 7 and 27 to BOB is a promising step towards a more sustainable public transport system in Marburg, and the city hopes for a positive outcome in the renewal of federal funding.