Eurometropolis of Strasbourg Invests 500 Million Euros in Mobility Revolution: Trams, Cycle Paths, Carpooling, and More

500 million euros for “a bouquet of mobility services for everyone”. This is the project of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, which places its return under the sign of a “Mobility Revolution”. The objective: it’s about getting out of the “all-car” era for the 506,000 inhabitants of the 33 municipalities of the Eurometropolis. A brief overview of current projects and the alternatives that will be proposed.

The tram will extend to the North and West

Three projects to extend the tram network are planned for the coming years. First there is the creation of the Nord tram, which should connect Place de Haguenau to Bischheim. The end of the public inquiry is planned for 2024. Another extension is planned towards the European Parliament.

Another project, which this time should see the light of day by the end of 2025: the F tram will go to Wolfisheim. Eight additional stations will emerge on 4.5 kilometers of track. Elected officials hope for a 30% increase in ridership, to reach a total of 50,000 passengers per day on this line.

These new tram tracks will be flanked by cycle paths. A bidirectional path will notably be put in place along the Roman route to the West, which is currently very dangerous for cyclists.

New cycle paths under study

An on-site cycle path project is being studied on Avenue de Colmar between Illkirch and downtown Strasbourg. A consultation is open and must end until September 30. Outside of Strasbourg, a Lampertheim-Pfulgriesheim connection was inaugurated last year, another between Oberhausbergen and Stutzheim has yet to see the light of day.

An app for carpooling

While 93% of journeys within the Eurometropolis are made by people alone in their car, elected officials want to encourage the reflex of car sharing. An application will be launched to allow motorists to share their journey. A compensation system will be put in place for drivers who share their car. Discussions are still underway with local communities close to the Eurometropolis, because the system is only interesting over long distances.

More buses, especially on the busiest lines

The strengthening of the bus offer will take place on several scales. The six busiest lines (towards Lingolsheim Alouettes, Vendenheim Gare, Pont Phario among others), will be renamed “Chron’hop”. They will have a cadence similar to that of trams (every 7 to 8 minutes). The objective is to not have to look at the timetables to reach a stop.

On the connections to the second ring, the “Flex’hop” on-demand transport offer was extended in March 2021. The express coach network must also continue its deployment in addition to rail. The dedicated lane on the motorway for a Wasselonne-Strasbourg connection in 40 minutes by bus is also eagerly awaited to relieve congestion on the Kochersberg roads.

REME, soon at full speed?

Finally for the train, it is obviously the REME, the “RER bas-rhinois” which was to revolutionize daily transport. After a very difficult start last year, it is finding its cruising speed according to the Eurométropole (650 more trains per day). No date, however, for the 800 additional trains promised at the launch of the project.

To connect the different means of public transport to each other, the 13 stations of the Eurometropolis will be transformed into “multimodal exchange hubs”.