Frankfurt’s stops go green and digital

A pilot project for better climate has started in the fifth most populous German city

VGF, Frankfurt’s transport company and service provider, has planted greenery at two waiting shelters at a tram stop in the city. As of the beginning of February, the same spots are also providing digitalized information to passengers.

The purpose: to ensure higher air quality and a more comfortable waiting experience. Combined, these should perhaps motivate more people to leave their cars behind and opt for the more sustainable public transport instead.

Cleaner air and cooler waiting experience for VGF’s passengers

As part of a pilot project, VGF has made the two waiting shelters at “Börneplatz / Stoltzestraße” green.

Their roofs are now adorned with the so-called “extensive sedum plants”. Such installations are easy to maintain thanks to a built-in water retention system, which avoids the need to water the plants. The shelters are also good for the climate as they attract insects, purify the air and cool it on hot days.

The back wall of the stop is also covered with moss and plants on both sides. A total of 12 different plants will bloom beautifully and attract bees in the upcoming months. This wall greenery is watered via a water tank located in the bench.

Such vertical greening is a novelty in waiting shelters, explained VGF technicians, and will initially be tested for one year. The green roof, however, is here to stay permanently.

To further enhance passenger’s experience, the company has also installed a screen in each shelter. It shows real-time information about transport connections to the surrounding stops and stations as well as about alternative mobility solutions, like shared cars, bikes, e-scooters, and taxis available in the vicinity. This information is supplemented by two smaller screens showing the timetable.

This mode of greening the bus stops should be used in all new waiting shelters wherever possible. In addition, the use of photovoltaic systems on suitable bus stop roofs is to be tested. The pilot project is funded by the City of Frankfurt's Environment Agency as part of its climate program.