Seestrasse on Lake Starnberg: Local council agrees to downgrading!

Seestrasse on Lake Starnberg: Local council agrees to downgrading!

In an exciting meeting, the Münsing local council decided to downgrade Seestrasse on the eastern shore of Lake Starnberg from a district road (TÖL 2) to a municipal road. This happened after a detailed discussion in which Mayor Michael Grasl was commissioned to conduct negotiations with District Administrator Josef Niedermaier and the responsible departments of the District Office. The following exchange shows the different perspectives and concerns of the council members, with the safety of citizens and the need for transport use at the forefront, as Merkur reports.

The Seestrasse, which is almost nine kilometers long and has no connection to higher-level roads, is repeatedly the subject of discussions about its classification. Before the regional reform in 1978, it still had the status of a district road because it connected the communities of Münsing and Holzhausen. Nowadays, however, according to the Bavarian Roads and Paths Act (BayStrWG), the road no longer meets the criteria for this classification. This is particularly relevant as the street is now mainly frequented by pedestrians and cyclists, while car use is restricted by special permits, as Süddeutsche Zeitung adds.

Concerns and Opportunities

The discussion about downgrading is not only a question of status, but also has financial implications. The district office has suggested that a neutral specialist office check the condition of the road and determine the renovation costs. As this process progresses, the municipalities could also take over the parts of the road that are privately owned, despite the indication that the residents' claim to these areas has expired.

Mayor Grasl also pointed out that taking over the route would entail additional burdens for the local administration and the building yard. Helge Strauß from the CSU expressed specific concerns about the resources required, such as new equipment and additional staff, to ensure maintenance. On the other hand, Christine Mair from the Greens and Prof. Dr. Matthias Richter-Turtur supports the reclassification, but at the same time warns of possible negative decisions by the government of Upper Bavaria if no consensus is reached.

Road safety in focus

The gradation could also open up new opportunities for the municipality to introduce speed restrictions, such as a 30 km/h limit, and to crack down on illegal parking, which could improve both safety and quality of life in the region. The high number of pedestrians and cyclists has also led to calls for better solutions from the traffic calming working group. This underlines the objective of 'Vision Zero', which aims to reduce the number of traffic accidents and not to lose lives or allow serious injuries on our roads, as the Mobility Forum puts it.

The question now remains as to whether the downgrading of the Seestrasse will be successful, especially since attempts to reject it in recent years have been made for financial reasons. A second time, the municipality could also have to prepare for decisive changes in terms of traffic safety and usage conflicts, and the pressure on those responsible will certainly increase.