1. Public transport in double-town Frankfurt (Oder) - Słubice
Magdalena Warchol, Projectmanager, Stadtverkehrsgesellschaft mbH Frankfurt (Oder),
Böttnerstraße 1, Frankfurt (Oder)

2. History
Foto: Stadtarchiv Frankfurt (Oder)

3. Geographical location
Gorzów Wlkp.
about 80 km away from Berlin
about 450 km away from Warsaw
direct neighbors on both sides of the Oder River
together about inhabitants

4. Special characteristics
student city with Europe-University Viadrina and Collegium Polonicum (non-resident center of Adam Mickiewicz University)
students live and study on both sides of the Oder River
30% of the retail sales in Frankfurt (Oder) is generated by Polish citizens, in Słubice over 50% by German citizens
Many Polish cross-border commuters use train connection from Frankfurt (Oder) to Berlin
increasing population in Słubice
insufficient public transport in Słubice
cross-border cooperation on education and social associations
participation in sport and cultural activities on both sides of the border

5. Interdependence Increasing ties between both cities
acceptance decision of the Common Activation Plan for Frankfurt and Slubice for the period
establishment of the Frankfurt-Słubice Cooperation Center
various common tourist activities and infrastructure projects
common umbrella brand and city marketing concept
district heating project for Frankfurt (Oder)-Słubice
common cross-border public transport

6. Public transport project
History
initial talks in the year of 2000
creation of German-Polish working groups to deal with:
legal,
technical
and economical aspects
study project and strategy concepts for a common public transport in 2011
start of the cross-border bus line on the 9th December 2012

7. Public transport project
opening of the common bus line,

8. Basic information
frequency half-hourly till 9 am, after that – every hour
using of natural-gas-powered busses
transport capacity: up to 90 passengers per a bus

9. Special aspect: VBB A B C Involvement of Słubice in
5770
Georgenthal
Petershagen
b. FF B
Markendorf
Pagram
Rosengarten
Siedlung
Malchow
Frankfurt
(Oder) B
6174
Wiesenau
Kunitzer
Loose
W./Wirtschaft
Kalläne
6175
Aurith
6074
Finkenheerd
Kraftwerk Fin-
kenheerd
Brieskow
Weißenspring
Schlaube-
hammer
6173
Groß Lindow
6072
Müllrose
Pflegeheim
Kaisermühl
Biegenbrück
Dubrow
6171
Biegen
6071
Pillgram
6070
5971
Jacobsdorf
(Mark)
5870
Vorwerk
Petersdorf
b. Briesen
Sieversdorf
Wulkow b.
Döbberin
Treplin
5771
Alt Zeschdorf
5672
Mallnow
Niederjesar
Carzig
5773
Wüste-
Kunersdorf
Lebus
Booßen
Schönfließ
5772
5673
Klessin
Podelzig
(Oder) A
Frankfurt (Oder)
Neuberesinchen A
Frankfurt (O)-
Helenesee
Güldendorf
Hohenwalde
Kliestow
Lossow
Lichtenberg
Slubice
Involvement of Słubice in
the pay scale areas of the transport association Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB)
Advantage
one ticket for the
whole area of
Berlin - Brandenburg

10. Passengers
About passengers in the year 2013

11. Schoolbus

12. Need for improvement
implementation of a barrier-free access (especially on bus stops)
installation of additional bus stops in Poland
timetable adjustments
(taking into account the circumstances in both countries, such as courses schedule at the universities, pupils activities in bilingual programmes, regional rail timetable etc)

13. Public transport project
Problems
In spite of EU membership:
- different law systems
- any or controversial legal bases for inter-municipal cooperation
- no clear legal bases for common financing of municipal projects
- taxation in both countries
There where lots of meetings and talks to clarify these questions, for example:
meetings with members of the EU Parliament: Dr. Christian Ehler (2001) or Joachim Zeller (2012).
The municipality of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice introduced the problem to the committee of the German-Polish Government Commission for regional and cross-border cooperation in April 2012 and also visited in October 2012 the EU representatives.

14. Thank you for the attention! Böttnerstraße 1, 15232 Frankfurt (Oder)
Presentation for the visit of the European Parliament's Delegation on
Magdalena Warchol, Projectmanager, Stadtverkehrsgesellschaft mbH Frankfurt (Oder),
Böttnerstraße 1, Frankfurt (Oder)