This is the first major public transport project of elected environmentalists in Lyon. This Wednesday, July 5, they presented the future tram line which will serve the west of Lyon. The metro project in this sector has definitely been buried. The tram will take its place, sparking criticism in the opposition.
In the west of Lyon, at rush hour, you have to be patient to try to reach the city center. The hill of Fourvière, its tunnel, its traffic jams are so many difficulties to face on a daily basis. In order to allow a “report modal“, for years, elected officials of all tendencies have been looking for solutions as an alternative to the car.
Under the previous majority of Gérard Collomb, it was the metro that was considered. A metro that would have connected the center of Lyon to the municipalities of the west. A line for which studies and even consultation had been carried out. But, upon their arrival, the ecologists decided otherwise.
Thanks to its underground section, the express tram will connect Alaï to Confluence in less than 15 minutes. The numerous correspondences will promote efficient service to the whole of the metropolis.
Bruno Bernard, President (EELV) of SYTRAL Mobilités
Several options are being considered at the start and finish, a large part of the route will be buried • © SYTRAL Mobilités
This is one of the originalities of this new line, a large part of the route will be underground. It will leave from the Perrache station interchange, it will pass under the Saône and the hill to emerge on the plateau of the 5ᵉ arrondissement and end its journey at the Alaï star in Tassin-la-Demi-Lune.
Two underground stations are under study (one in Sainte-Foy and the other near Place du Point du Jour). Two options from Perrache are being considered, one via Cours Suchet, the other via Rue Montrochet.
This project is not unanimous, especially among those who in the past preferred the metro. Among them, Yann Cucherat. For this elected official from the opposition in the 5ᵉ arrondissement, the question of passenger capacity arises. A metro carries, on average, twice as many passengers as the tramway, according to the Ministry of Transport (800 people in a metro train against 300 for the tramway).
We will see in the end if the cost is really lower than the metro. We will also analyze the service provided by TEOl (Tram express de l’ouest lyonnais) in terms of boarding capacity.
Yann Cucherat, municipal elected official (presidential majority) of the opposition
For Jean-Charles Kohlhaas, vice-president (EELV) for mobility in metropolitan France, “the objective of this tramway is to transport between 40,000 and 60,000 people per day“. When asked the question of capacity, he answers “territory density”.
The capacity of a mode of transport depends on the need… However, in this territory, there is not enough density and in terms of travel time, we are very close to the metro. We’re going to fill it up.
Jean Charles Kohlhaas, vice-president (EELV) at Lyon Metropolis in charge of travel
A budget of 800 million euros was devoted to this project (more was needed for the metro, around 1.2 billion euros). This Thursday, July 6, the board of directors of SYTRAL Mobilités will have to decide on the practical arrangements for the consultation which could begin at the end of 2023.
The works, meanwhile, will only be done from 2026 for commissioning scheduled for 2031.
2023-07-05 17:52:54
#tram #line #Lyon #unanimous
