Daniel Michaels and Mary M. Lane recount the 16-year drama, now verging on farce, surrounding the delayed grand opening of Berlin's new airport.
Much to the chagrin of a country that prides itself on punctuality, the opening of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which was slated for its flying start this June, has been pushed back to next March. The much anticipated opening, in preparation for which 10,000 Berliners impersonated airline passengers in simulated scenarios to work out the kinks, has reportedly been pushed back 10 months due to problems in the terminal's fire-control systems.
Other criticisms and concerns have plagued Brandenburg's inaugural opening. "Critics call it a waste," says Berliner Frank Welskop who has written a book attacking the project's years of legal battles, delays and budget overruns. He warns that the airport "will just become a sinkhole for billions of euros."
Moreover, Berliners resistant to change are not ready to say auf Wiedersehen to historic Tegel Airport. Many East Berliner's first flights to the West were from Tegel after the fall of the Berlin Wall, note Michaels and Lane.
Thanks to Daniel Lippman
FULL STORY: Berlin's New Airport Is Racking Up Delays Even Before It Opens
New HSR Train Conects Paris and Berlin
Officials hail the new route as a symbol of the friendship between two of Europe’s most important economic powers.
What Housing Organizers in the U.S. Can Learn from Berlin's Re-Socialization Campaign
More than half of Berlin voters approved a non-binding referendum to resocialize a quarter-million apartments. What can housing organizers in the U.S. learn?
How Global Cities Are Working to Electrify Transit
With the transportation sector accounting for a third of urban carbon emissions, cities around the world are seeking new ways to electrify their transit fleets and reduce fossil fuel consumption.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service