Zuidas to create space for walking, cycling and public transport

In July 2023, the Amsterdam City Executive and the Executive Board of Amsterdam Regional Transport (Vervoerregio Amsterdam) approved the Sustainably Accessible Zuidflank Mobility Plan (Mobility Plan for short). Based on that plan, we will be developing a package of measures in Zuidas aimed at keeping the area accessible and liveable up to 2040. ‘Our focus will be on more space for slow traffic and public transport’, says Isabelle van den Bouwhuijsen, programme manager for Accessibility at the City of Amsterdam. ‘We also believe it’s very important to encourage people to travel to and from Zuidas at off-peak periods in order to reduce times of excessive congestion on the transport network. We can actually offer attractive alternatives, such as comfortable walking routes and safe cycle crossings, but there needs to be a change in the way people travel.’

Zuidas is becoming more crowded

The Zuidflank (southern flank) stretches from east to west between the rivers Schinkel and the Amstel, and from north to south from Stadionweg to Van Nijenrodeweg. At its heart lies Zuidas, which is rapidly developing into a fully-fledged city district for everyone, offering housing, offices and amenities. It also boasts public space with plenty of room for people to meet, green spaces and water. This increasing urbanisation is happening at the same time as the development of a state-of-the-art public transport hub. Zuidasdok is working on the renovation of Amsterdam Zuid station and the widening and tunnelling of the A10 Zuid. Ultimately, the North/South metro line will also be extended to reach Schiphol. ‘All of this combined is making the area increasingly crowded’, explains Van de Bouwhuijsen. ‘In the years ahead, we expect to see the number of users of this area, such as employees, students, residents and visitors, to increase by around 50%. The number of passengers is expected to double, also because of the growth in the region.’

Putting plans into practice

In order to ensure that the increased congestion can be effectively managed in the future and Zuidas kept accessible and liveable, the mobility plan is now in place. This plan is not new policy, but includes a package of measures aimed at putting urban mobility policy into practice. The plan’s approval makes it possible for a project organisation to be set up that will implement the different measures in the years ahead.

Making the Zuidflank sustainably accessible

The aim of measures being taken in the Zuidflank area, with Zuidas at its core, is to encourage sustainable mobility, such as walking, cycling and public transport use. Space in Zuidas is in short supply, which means it is important to properly determine what this space should be used for and how. The measures are based on four related pillars:

• more space to spend time and improving the alternatives for car use;
• working with the business community and educational institutions to encourage employees and students to travel outside peak periods and by cycle, on foot or by public transport;
• reducing parking space;
• an ongoing focus on the impact of what we build on mobility and liveability.

Van den Bouwhuijsen: ‘For example, we’re significantly reducing the number of parking spaces on new-build projects, making the car less attractive as a means of transport. But we’re also compensating for that by increasing the number of bicycle parking spaces, thereby encouraging people to use their bikes.’ Another appealing example involves the creation of a one-way zone for cars in the centre of Zuidas. One direction of travel is being removed from the vehicle route around Amsterdam Zuid station, meaning it will only be possible to travel anti-clockwise: via Strawinskylaan, Parnassusweg, Gustav Mahlerlaan and Beethovenstraat back to Strawinksylaan. This will immediately free up a carriageway to improve the flow of public transport or to provide extra space for pedestrians, cycle parking spaces and/or more green areas.

Mobility plan agreed: what next?