Users of the A7 motorway now benefit froma new carpooling area on the A7 – Avignon Nord interchange. This new space is co-financed by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, the Department of Vaucluse, the community of Grand Avignon and Vinci Autoroute.
It has a drop-offmotorcycle spaces, a shelter, two electric charging stations and of 114 places parking spaces, three of which are dedicated to people with reduced mobility, and are accessible from the A7 toll gate exit or via one of the avenues in the Pontet commercial area.
If eight carpooling parking lots now exist on the route of the Autoroute du Soleil, the general director of Vinci Autouroute, Jérôme Pissonnier underlines the efforts that remain to be made, « according to our latest self-driving barometer published in September 2024, not less than 85.7 % of motorists drive alone in the morning during rush hoursit becomes very urgent to develop the collective use of roads and highways ».
€24 million for the Grand Avignon park and ride facilities
The involvement of the South Region, the Department of Vaucluse and Grand Avignon to the tune of 10 % of the total cost of the operation, i.e. 800 000 €, demonstrates the concerns of territorial stakeholders. Jean-Firmin Bardisa, vice-president of Grand Avignon, recalls the virtuous commitment of his community, « 24 M€ will be devoted to the creation of relay parking lots connected to the public transport network in Les Angles, Réalpanier, among others ».
The Department of Vaucluse, represented by Thierry Lagneau, is also investing to facilitate travel for Vauclusians and has a certified network of 45 carpooling areas end of 2024. But its priority is to relieve congestion in the Bonpas sector where « the work will begin in 2025 and last until 2027. Dominique Santoni and Joël Guin contacted Vinci Autoroute to schedule the Avignon Sud carpooling area on this occasion as part of the current project contract with the 'State ».
