Kempten dares to make a new beginning: joining the MVV instead of the Allgäu transport association!

Kempten dares to make a new beginning: joining the MVV instead of the Allgäu transport association!

In the Ostallgäu district and the city of Kaufbeuren, the course is being set for the future of local transport. How Mercury reported, the two areas are aiming to join the Munich Transport and Tariff Association (MVV) after plans for their own Allgäu transport association were shelved. This step could not only improve citizens' mobility, but also strengthen regional connections to the Munich metropolitan region.

The decision to remove funding for the “Allgäu Mobil” project from the 2025 budget seems to be a clear signal of the impending upheaval. In recent years, intensive preparations have been made for the Allgäu transport association, but the circumstances have changed fundamentally. Dr. Richard Schiessl, head of the Department for Economics, Culture and Administration, suggests that important partners have been lost and new solutions must now be found.

Challenges and solutions

Kempten and the Oberallgäu district, where around 230,000 residents live, are facing new challenges. While the Bavarian state government is promoting nationwide transport association funding, the city administration is trying to make a quick decision. The advantages of integrating into the MVV are obvious: an established structure and significantly better rail connections are just a few of them.

The city administration has put forward a proposal to join an existing transport system, although the VVM and bodo options are considered less suitable. Nevertheless, there are voices in the city council who express reservations about joining the MVV and discuss the effects on the local transport infrastructure. It was therefore decided to invite MVV representatives to a meeting to clarify the membership conditions in detail.

Funding and future prospects

The financial conditions associated with membership in the MVV are particularly interesting. Within the first five years, up to 90% can be funded for investments and compensation payments, which could make the decision in favor of the MVV easier. The city administration also has the task of checking the membership conditions and funding conditions by December 31, 2026 in order to obtain the most comprehensive picture possible.

At the same time, suggestions continue to be made to the city council, such as a comparison with an “island solution”. In a recent vote, a majority of 35 city councilors were in favor of the resolution, while Natterer-Babych voted against it. The integration of the Mona, an existing transport system, also continues to be hotly debated.

Along with all these considerations, modern technology comes into play. With the MVVswipe function, which allows users to easily and conveniently purchase tickets via their smartphone, access to public transport becomes even more user-friendly. Whether spontaneous or planned, the use of the MVV will be made much more flexible and environmentally friendly thanks to this innovation, which could bind many travelers to the region. If you want to travel uncomplicated, you will find a well thought-out solution here.

The coming months will show whether joining the MVV is really the right step and how the local transport situation in Kempten and the Ostallgäu will develop. Citizens are excited and the city administration is faced with the challenge of finding a viable solution for everyone involved.