On January 24, 2026, a high-level stakeholder meeting was held in Crawinkel, bringing together representatives from regional government, municipalities, and civil society organisations for:
A Shared Vision for the Region
Participants agreed on a common vision:
“Safe, sustainable, and well-connected mobility that protects the environment, promotes active travel, and enhances quality of life in rural communities.”
The vision is based on the following key priorities:
- Environmentally friendly mobility and emission reduction
- Promotion of cycling and walking
- Improved traffic safety in local and regional roads
- Stronger connections to public transport and flexible mobility services
- Integration of mobility into spatial and land-use planning
Strategic Development Projects
In addition to mobility, several important development initiatives were presented:
- Reconstruction of the approximately 400-year-old Tobiashammer
- Establishment of a bionics centre with an “inventors’ school”
- Development of a bionics educational trail linking Ohrdruf and Crawinkel
- Expansion of health hiking trails in cooperation with the Thuringian Mountain and Hiking Association and academic partners
Strong Political Support
Minister Katharina Schenk expressed full support for the initiative and committed to ensuring efficient coordination and streamlined administrative processes.
The draft action plan was confirmed, with further discussions on implementation, responsibilities, and timelines to follow.