Green light for ‘Good Move’: Brussels’ ten year mobility plan

The Brussels government gave the green light on Thursday to ‘Good Move’, the regional plan that aims to improve transport links and general mobility in the Belgian capital.

The scheme aims for a 24% reduction in car use and a fourfold increase in the number of bike trips over the next ten years, as well as a significant increase in the overall use of public transport.

Good Move was developed following consultations with 190 private and public players in the mobility and transport sector, as well as discussions with all 19 communes and 6 police zones.

According to Mobility Minister Pascal Smet, Green Move will be subject to a public inquiry from 15 June to October 15 this year, so as to allow the next Brussels government to be able to refine the plan as it sees fit.

Better adapted roads

One of Good Move’s central aims is to redevelop some of the main motorways in and out of the capital (incl. A-12 and E-40), as well as some of Brussels’ key thoroughfares.

“Rue Charles Quint must be redesigned so as to accommodate changes to be made in public transport links. There is also now a broad consensus to eventually demolish the Hermann Debroux viaduct. Furthermore, we must reduce car congestion in the city itself: the Meiser, Lambermont, Louise and Sainctelette roads must be redeveloped to give more space to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport,” said Mr Smet.

Extension of subways and trams

Good Move seeks to complete a long-awaited metro extension to the north of the city. It will also examine the metro line’s possible extension to the south of the city via Albert and west towards Berchem or Grand-Bigard.

With regard to tramlines, the plan includes the extension of tramline 9 to Heysel, a brand-new tramline to Neder-over-Heembeek and a connection from Gare du Nord to Laeken via Tour & Taxi.

The extension of the cycling network is also an important part of the plan: cycle paths along several railways will be constructed, and currently dangerous crossings will be rendered more cyclist-friendly (incl. at Sainctelette, De Trooz, Vandervelde, Meiser, and the crossroads of the Petite Ceinture).

Another of Green Move’s central aims is the creation of eight new ‘pedestrian boulevards’, where only walking on foot will be permitted.