The Good Mobility Council (GMC) has awarded WaltherPark in Bolzano the full 'Certified Good Mobility in Gold' certificate. This certification designates WaltherPark as the first internationally recognised project of the GMC. The quarter, located in the centre of the South Tyrolean capital, combines a shopping mile, offices, a hotel, residential buildings, and a kindergarten. Its positioning directly next to Bolzano’s main railway station, at the intersection of the transnational Brenner–Verona axis, is strategically significant.
The realisation of WaltherPark involved redesigning the city entrance. A previously bus-only access route was transformed into a car-free city square, connecting the railway station with the central Waltherplatz and making it accessible on foot. The certification underscores that mobility was understood and implemented as a fundamental design principle for the entire quarter. WaltherPark thus bears a responsibility that extends beyond its property boundaries. A privately financed tunnel diverts car and delivery traffic away from the pedestrian zone and connects the building directly to the superordinate road network.
Furthermore, a dedicated cycle and foot path closes a gap in the regional cycle path network, which runs almost entirely flat to Verona. These measures have a tangible impact on users' mobility behaviour. Approximately 44 per cent of journeys to WaltherPark are made by public transport, while cycling forms the second dominant pillar. The proportion of private motorised transport is around 20 per cent, a figure considered remarkable for a city of this size and location.
Special Recognition and Urban Development Relevance
The project managers received 100 per cent recognition in the areas of Public Transport, Logistics, and Process. The fully decentralised delivery system, organised within the building, consistently separates goods and passenger traffic. High-quality, brightly lit car parks with access control and needs-based parking products set standards for urban-compatible car access. Christian Scheler, Managing Director of the Good Mobility Council, expressed appreciation for the transnational significance of the project. He emphasised that WaltherPark, as an active urban component, reorders traffic, creates a car-free connection between the station and the city centre, and takes responsibility beyond the project boundary. He added that the positive impact of a single building on the mobility of an entire city is rare, and the Gold certificate represents well-deserved recognition.
Thibault Chavanat, project developer for WaltherPark, explained that a construction project of this magnitude in this location can only function if internal mobility runs smoothly and the surrounding area benefits from it. The planning of deliveries, access, and pathways was designed to make public spaces calmer and more inviting, creating an integrated, open piece of the city. Johanna Ramoser, City Councillor for Mobility, Equal Opportunities, Schools, and Leisure, praised the award. She highlighted that this recognition confirms the joint commitment of the Municipality of Bolzano and Waltherpark AG to modern, sustainable, and future-oriented mobility development. WaltherPark is a positive example of innovative urban development and intelligent mobility solutions that generate added value for the entire city.
The Walther Tunnel makes an important contribution by channelling traffic underground, thereby relieving central areas such as Verdiplatz, Garibaldistraße, the railway station forecourt, and Waltherplatz. The conversion of Bahnhofsallee into a pedestrian zone, enabled by this, also improves the quality of public space, making the city park more accessible to the public.
