Hietzing in turmoil: political debates about the connecting railway and traffic calming!

Hietzing in turmoil: political debates about the connecting railway and traffic calming!

At the first district council meeting of the new legislative period in Hietzing on July 2, 2025, the temperature increased - not only metaphorically. District Councilor Stephan Grundei from the SPÖ described the session as a "fiery start" and already broken up heated discussions on various topics. A central point was an application for the connecting railway that the Neos, the ÖVP and Viktor Rösner had brought in by the Greens.

The application calls for a 15-minute cycle for the S80 and an explanation for the delays of the project. The ÖBB announced that a new timetable can only become realistic in 2036. This caused resentment in the committee: Grundei criticized that four parties have been waiting for the project for a decade. ÖVP district councilor Harald Mader pointed out that the district has no legal position in the procedure.

legal uncertainties around the connecting railway

The discussion receives additional explosiveness, since the Federal Administrative Court checks the positive environmental impact assessment (RRP) complaints from residents and citizens' initiatives. According to Krone , the procedure could possibly be legally contestable, which leads the entire project to a "triple -soft". In the event of a rejection, all lengthy procedures would have to be re -rolled up. This uncertainty concerns both the ÖBB and the Ministry of Transport and the citizens who want more participation.

Another discussion point was the traffic calming in front of the Wenzgasse high school. Here the Greens, Neos and the SPÖ applied for a permanent residential street, while the ÖVP brought in a limited application for school roads. The latter was rejected and the application for the residential street was accepted, which was a gratifying decision for many.

redesign of Leopold-Zechner-Platz

The financing of the redesign of the Leopold-Zechner-Platz was another concern. A new tree hedge, a round bench, armchair and a drinking fountain are planned - all for around 200,900 euros. The Greens expressed concerns about the price-performance ratio, while Christian Gerzabek from the SPÖ pointed out the legal necessities. Ultimately, the majority of the financing was accepted, which sets the course for the redesign.

The planned introduction of a 2-lines S-Bahn ring in Vienna could play a crucial role in the improvement in public transport in the future. The ÖBB plans to implement it on 2032, which should also bring an increase in passenger numbers. In the long term, real progress in public transport could be made if the S-Bahn S45 and S80 are integrated into the network and a connection to important traffic nodes such as Hütteldorf can be ensured.

The coming months will show how the legal and planning challenges develop. Above all, the citizens' initiatives remain vigilant and rely on real citizen participation to protect their votes in the procedure.