PTV Transport Consult is developing a new, comprehensive transportation model for the city of Karlsruhe, forming the basis for future-oriented and climate-friendly mobility planning. The model realistically depicts traffic patterns in the city and region, enabling sound analyses, forecasts, and climate protection scenarios up to 2040. PTV Transport Consult, a consulting firm within the PTV Group, was awarded the project contract at the end of October 2025, in partnership with INOVAPLAN GmbH. Following a successful launch in November 2025, the project is scheduled for completion in early 2027.
Why Karlsruhe needs a new transport model
Progressive climate change necessitates effective measures to reduce traffic-related greenhouse gas emissions. The state of Baden-Württemberg aims to reduce CO₂ emissions in the transport sector by 55 percent by 2030. According to its climate protection concept, the city of Karlsruhe intends to reduce total emissions across all sectors by 58 percent within the same reference period and achieve climate neutrality by 2040. Therefore, a reduction in CO₂ emissions in the transport sector is essential . This reduction will be defined and supported by concrete measures within the framework of a future update to the transport development plan.
To meet these strategic requirements, the city needs a reliable, up-to-date data foundation that reflects the status quo. In this context, the development of CO2 emissions since the last transport development plan is also being reviewed . The new model is intended to realistically depict the current traffic situation and the use of all modes of transport – from walking and cycling to public transport and private motorized transport – and to enable the evaluation of existing and future measures.
The realization of this forward-looking project is financially supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg with a funding rate of 50%.
Successful application in a consortium with INOVAPLAN
Following a tender issued by the City of Karlsruhe at the end of October 2025, PTV Transport Consult and INOVAPLAN were awarded the contract based on their joint application. Both partners are contributing their specific expertise to the project: The transport experts at PTV Transport Consult are responsible for project management, the creation of the public transport networks, the development and calibration of the demand model, quality assurance according to the manual, and the implementation of the forecast assumptions in the demand model. The specialists at INOVAPLAN, on the other hand, are responsible for deputy project management and the structural data basis, the creation of the road and bicycle traffic network, and the calculation of the forecast scenarios.
Both companies are very familiar with the local conditions: “Both PTV and INOVAPLAN have their main offices in Karlsruhe and therefore possess outstanding local knowledge – not only from the perspective of modelers and transport planners, but also as residents of the city of Karlsruhe and daily users of Karlsruhe's infrastructure,” explains Alexandra Roos, Head of Department at PTV Transport Consult, in whose team the project is located.
Project organization and outlook
In a process lasting approximately 15 months, PTV Transport Consult and INOVAPLAN, in close coordination with the city planning office, which is leading the project, are developing the new multimodal transport model. Upon completion in early 2027, the Baden-Württemberg city, known for its innovative spirit, will have a modern tool at its disposal. This will equip Karlsruhe's strategic mobility planning for future requirements and enable it to make a significant contribution to achieving climate protection goals.
Source: PTV Group