The Valdo-Fribourg agglomeration project which includes Rennaz, Montreux, Vevey and Châtel-St-Denis is moving forward. From this Saturday, a public consultation will be launched to allow the population to express themselves on this project, called Rivelac.
With its more than 100,000 current inhabitants, this region of the Riviera and Veveyse must prepare to welcome 35,000 new inhabitants by 2040, an increase which will be accompanied by a significant expansion of infrastructure.
Faced with these developments, the thirteen Vaudois municipalities of Haut-Lac and the Riviera, as well as the five Friborg municipalities of Veveyse, have decided to join forces to coordinate regional planning.
The Rivalac project includes a program of sixty priority projects, which could be implemented between 2028 and 2032. The total cost is estimated at around 160 million francs, and local authorities hope to obtain funding from the Confederation of 30% to 50% .
Mobility, at the heart of the project
These projects mainly aim to improve mobility in the region. “The bus network will be completely redesigned, with an increase in speeds, the creation of new lines and a reduction in travel times. This will be felt in the short term by the population,” explains Antoine Dormond, co-chair of the steering committee and municipal council of Vevey in charge of Urban Planning and Mobility, Wednesday in La Matinale de la RTS.
Among the flagship projects, a new direct bus line could see the light of day between Châtel-St-Denis and Vevey, facilitating daily travel between these two centers. A soft mobility path linking Palézieux is also under study, as well as the construction of a footbridge to connect Châtel-St-Denis station to the industrial zone, which would improve accessibility for workers.
Response expected in 2026
This is not the first time that an urban area project has seen the light of day in the region. Eleven years ago, a similar agglomeration project was rejected by the Confederation, considered too unambitious and innovative.
Municipalities have until March 2025 to submit their file to the Confederation, which should give its response in 2026.
Margaux Reguin/rehearsal
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