these municipalities are “forgotten”, an expert alerts

Public transport projects are multiplying in the metropolis of Lyon, but certain areas are “forgotten” during this mandate, notably the west of Lyon and the Val de Saône to the north according to Etienne Faugier, lecturer in contemporary history at Lyon 2 University and specialist in the history of mobility.

The TCL network is the best in France after Paris, but improving the public transport offer remains a major challenge to reduce car traffic. This expert provides his analysis and elements of response.

A “hyper-centric conception” of the Metropolis

High level of service bus (BHNS) between Part-Dieu and Sept-Chemins, tram T9, T10, river shuttles… Greater Lyon is undertaking numerous projects aimed at improving the mobility of its citizens. Solutions which “remain hyper-focused”, however criticizes Etienne Faugier.

We must put an end, in mentalities, to “little Lyon”. Elected officials and residents alike must think on a larger scale, because we have been living on a much larger territory for around thirty years now, both for our leisure and our work.

In the west and north of Lyon, areas “forgotten” in terms of public transport during this mandate, the bus offer is very extensive. “What sins is the frequencybut in these areas, BRTs would be difficult to make profitable. »

The specialist analyzes a “fairly glaring inequality” between the west and east of Lyon: “We developed a ring road and TCLs to the east, where, for the west, we considered finishing the ring road at 21st century only with the Ring of Science. »

A lack of structuring projects in the north

The 28 km BRT between Lyon and Trévoux (Ain), created by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, will be launched in 2030. But until then, no new structuring project for the north of Lyon and the Val de Saône, apart from the creation of a new park-and-ride facility at the Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d'Or station by the Métropole. “It’s good, but it won’t be enough,” says the specialist.

“I think we need a return of the blue train [ce tramway qui circulait entre Lyon et Neuville-sur-Saône fermé en 1957, NDLR]. There is a whole latent railway heritage, why not take up these neglected axes to make them structuring? »

The last mile is a problem

When questioned, Neuville-sur-Saône Mobility Assistant Vincent Alamercery said he was “very satisfied” with the new bus corridor delivered by the Metropolis in 2023. “The offer is quite rich along the Saône, unlike in the heights. What poses a problem is the last kilometer, the one that separates the station from the place of work or residence.

We need to work on local bus services: with such a low frequency, this is not a solution. Arriving at the Albigny-Neuville TER station, how do I get to the places of activity? This is something that remains to be resolved.

“We are also entitled to bicycle facilities and we see usage explode when they are qualitative and secure,” assures the elected official.

The under-exploited rail network?

For the latter, the investments of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region in the rail network should be multiplied. “It is the means of transport the most efficient and practical to go to Lyon, but he is a victim of his success. We are asking for longer trains, they are saturated during rush hour. »

Vincent Alamercery is calling in particular for improved frequency and extended time ranges in the evening. “The equipment is obsolete, delays are frequent, a good part of the line remains to be electrified… There is still a lot to do and the region's investments are clearly not sufficient. »

Difficulties in the West

To the west of Lyon, “where the elected officials do not seem not all agree with the same projects”, the West Lyon Express Tramway (Teol) announced for 2032 is the only major project planned after the abandonment of the E metro and the Lyon – Francheville cable car. “Whatever the surface scenario, it will not be able to integrate into the city,” responded Pascal Charmot, mayor of Tassin-la-Demi-Lune.

Teol is essential although “some do not want it, perhaps for fear of an increase in land or their population”, reports Etienne Faugier.

This solution seems to be the most agile, much cheaper than a metro. We are already saying that we could extend this tramway to Craponnes, it is good to see that this project can be thought of more broadly. The bus network could be re-articulated around this structuring infrastructure with BRTs to connect it to different municipalities.

This form of opposition with regard to these public transport is it explained by the standard of living in these western territories, richer than in the east?

A rejection of public transport?

For Etienne Faugier, there is no doubt: “The residents of western Lyon do not necessarily see a need for more transport. The culture of travel is there mostly automobile and in its history there has been a rejection of public transportation that persists today. »

Etienne Faugier calls on the west of Lyon to “get out of its bubble”. For the expert, the difficulty in doing so could find reasons in “a fear of the marginal population brought by these arrangements. This idea has existed for several decades, several centuries.”

A link to be strengthened with the TER: “It’s the future”

To do this, the specialist has no doubt about the procedure to follow. “The future is here: we need a common subscription card for a TER – TCL package. Both the Region and the Metropolis must make a gesture towards the populations. » An opinion that the elected official from Neuville shares.

The discussions are completely at a standstill and the Serm file, these metropolitan train projects for a Lyon RER like in Parisdon't move forward.

“However, it is the ideal model. Wealth is concentrated in the metropolises and it is becoming more and more complicated to access them with the ZFE, pedestrianization, cycle paths… We have to think about the territory on the scale of the department, or even further,” warns Etienne Faugier . Vincent Alamercery agrees: “It would be a unavoidable to have an efficient network. In the meantime, it is the residents who are toasting. »

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