Granted by the State two days before the first round of the legislative elections, this label is the first step towards financing several billion euros to strengthen public transport in the two regional capitals and which could change the daily lives of the inhabitants of Occitanie.
Better serve metropolises towards their outskirts and the fabric of medium-sized towns; increase public transport; express coaches ; cycle path networks; reduction of the place of the car; opening the way to a single ticket… The good news comes two days before the vote for the legislative elections. It is nonetheless good news that we hope will be definitive, whatever government is formed the day after July 7.
First fifteen labeled projects
Montpellier and Toulouse, our two regional capitals, are selected as “metropolitan RER”. They are part of a first wave of fifteen metropolitan regional express service projects (Serm). The Ministry of Transport has just labeled these fifteen sites, the first step in this procedure. “It is based on a “minute file” established by the project leaders, which presents the general ambition, the local actors mobilized, the scope concerned and the major strategic orientations”, indicates the ministry. The law had begun to give substance to these vital projects for Montpellier and Toulouse.
Other projects elsewhere in France
In addition to Montpellier and Toulouse, the regions and communities of the territories of Bordeaux, Chambéry, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Mulhouse, Nantes, Rouen, Saint-Etienne, Strasbourg and Tours, as well as the leaders of the Lorraine-Luxembourg project, are thus invited to continue the work of developing their Serm with a view to definitively obtaining the status by decree. “This decision will be taken on the basis of an in-depth file, which must specify the objectives, the road map to achieve them, the financing plan as well as the governance of the project.”
Other files have been received and are currently being examined (Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Orléans, Toulon and Basque-Landais, Côte d’Opale and Franco-Swiss projects). They may be subject to certification during a second wave in the coming days. Other Serm projects are also being defined in the territories and may subsequently be labeled.
Strengthen and densify as never before all existing means of transport in Occitania
On May 24, all political actors in Hérault signed a commitment: to apply for Serm (Metropolitan Regional Express Services), as Dis-Leurs explained it to you HERE. This involves strengthening and densifying as never before all existing means of transport in part of the Occitanie region: Montpellier, Sète, the Hauts-Cantons of Hérault and Gard by promoting intermodalities. Nearly a million people are concerned. A range of offers to also encourage residents to use their cars less. All that remained was the green light from the State, obtained this Thursday, and the funding pending.
Five months earlier, gathered at the First Meetings of Urban Mobility and Territories, in Toulouse, political leaders wanted better accessibility to the metropolis, improve interconnections and, to do this, create new infrastructures, as Dis-Leurs explained it to you HERE. The file will be submitted in March. There remains the question of financing which undoubtedly amounts to several billion euros…
A project for the next ten years
In short, the aim is to densify the public transport network. Trains, buses, metro, tram but also by lanes dedicated to cycling. This also includes the creation of the LGV and “I am not talking about the 17 km of railway developments in the north of Toulouse; there could be the reinforcement of existing railway lines. It also means benefiting from more frequent trains (we are talking about 10 minutes to 15 minutes at peak times); earlier and later in the day; optimising intermodalities and, above all, investing heavily in infrastructure and rolling stock…” A project for the next ten years. Jean-Luc Moudenc clarified that, according to “Elected officials specializing in the issue, the cost would be more around 15 billion euros or even 30 billion euros…”
Olivier SCHLAMA
Also read on Tell them !
Hérault/Gard: The Montpellier “metropolitan RER” wants to increase the number of transport options
Toulouse: Delga, Moudenc and Vincini jointly apply for a metropolitan “RER”
