Transport. Smitu meeting: the five facts to remember

1. The municipalities of the CCCE do not close the door

“I plan to meet with President Paquet next week. This evening, I will therefore refrain from discussing this subject. Even if I find this taking of competence very legitimate. Roger Schreiber does not wish to say more. But he has already said too much. “Legitimate”: the term, used by the president of Smitu to qualify the supposed emancipation desires of the Community of communes of Cattenom and surroundings (CCCE) vis-à-vis the union, will hover over this union committee. To summarize, the recent return of a study commissioned by the EPCI could tend towards an acquisition of the “mobility” competence by the interco. Six so-called isolated towns within the territory of the CCCE, served by the Citéline network, would be affected by the creation of a bus network at the com ‘com scale. The use of the conditional is voluntary, it must necessarily cover this option.

With gravity, even emotion, the mayor Roland Balcerzak returns to this announcement “which is not a surprise. President Michel Paquet only revealed the results of a study that we had been carrying out for twenty-four months […] What lives in us is to mesh the rural environment so that no municipality is the victim of a lack of service ”. Michel Hergat, the mayor of Entrange, does not go further, too, in the projections: “Our position is in the interest of our inhabitants. We are in a constructive logic, our will is not to destroy everything ”. “Thank you for saying that the door is not closed,” Roger Schreiber concluded.

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2. Citézen financing unveiled

Citézen is attracting new funders. The updating of the financing plan for this future high-level service bus (BRT) project, which in 2026 will link the agglomerations of Thionville and Hayange, introduces two new lenders. This brings to four the number of banking establishments likely to support the Smitu in its structuring project: “Today, we therefore have a borrowing capacity of 160 M € for a remainder to be realized of 143 M €. », Pierre Tacconi notes. Proof that this BRT, ballasted with an electric motor, seems launched on good rails.

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3. A commercial gesture for users

“A very agitated return”. Sweet euphemism. Last September, the new TransFensch bus traffic plan raised a strong wind of protest. And quickly brought about the putting to sleep of the new service and the return to the network of 2019. Just to settle this bad memory, the Smitu, through the voice of Bernard Veinnant, offers a commercial gesture to users. Which takes the form of a 10% credit on the S’cool Pass subscription: “The beneficiaries simply have to request it”. Without questioning this compensation scheme, some voices in the assembly demanded that this reimbursement not be subject to any action by subscribers. After a show of hands, it is finally the initial position of the Smitu that wins.

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4. Return to the network on February 22

Reverse, forward … It’s official: on February 22, the Smitu will relaunch its much-maligned traffic plan at the start of the school year. Don’t panic, however: this should be deeply amended. “I am currently meeting all the mayors to reset this plan,” said Bernard Veinnant.

Which recalls the financial impact of this overhaul: “For each municipality to have a minimum service, it will necessarily increase the envelope of kilometers. ”

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5. A 3e way to Luxembourg under study

Hastily added to the agenda by Roger Schreiber, a small point far from trivial.

At the request of the Moselle prefect, the president of the Smitu is invited to look into the creation of a third line to Luxembourg, in addition to the BHNS: “It would depart from Thionville and pass through Hettange, Kanfen, Volmerange-les- Mines, etc. In the territory of the CCCE, therefore.

Isn’t the road to union with isolated municipalities all found?

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