It’s not just races that are increasing. In Toulouse, the colossal project of third metro line, announced for the end of 2028 and whose construction has begun, is also suffering the pangs of inflation. Estimated at 2.8 billion euros in 2021, the operation – which also includes an extension of line B and a dedicated connection of the future line C to Toulouse-Blagnac airport – must now officially cost 3.44 billion. Blame it on the health crisis and then on the war in Ukraine. “The prices of concrete, scrap metal, steel have exploded, leading to an increase in the cost of public contracts by 15 to 20%”, justifies Sacha Briand (LR), the vice-president in charge of finance for Toulouse, who is also worried about the “additional 25 million euros per year” that the Tisséo transport network must absorb due to the explosion in the cost of energy.
But once the culprits have been identified, all that remains is to find the money, these 500 to 600 million – no one confirms a precise amount – to complete the financing of Line C and which the metropolitan opposition revels in because it had from the start fired the alarm bell of a potential cost overrun.
A bonus of 60 million per year
And, in this area, so as not to reduce the community’s investment capacity in other projects, Jean-Luc Moudenc, the mayor of the Pink City and president of Toulouse Métropole, has an idea of the lever to activate. He told the magazine on Tuesday Challenges that he was trying behind the scenes to convince Prime Minister Elisabeth Borde and Clément Beaune and Christophe Béchu, his ministers of transport and ecological transition, to go through the law to play on the Mobility Payment (VM). This local tax (better known by its former name of Transport Payment) applies to the payroll of all companies with more than 11 employees. But, except for Greater Paris, which obtained an exemption (2.95%), it is capped at 2%.
And Toulouse, where the VM brings in 300 million euros a year, has long been on the hook. “The idea would be to rise to around 2.4%, which would bring in an additional 60 million euros to the community”, calculates Sacha Briand. An increase in taxation which is already causing a wind of discontent on the side of the Medef. “But it might not concern all metropolises. The mayor also suggests that the removal of the cap be conditional on selective criteria such as the establishment of low emission zones (ZFE) or the existence of heavy transport infrastructure projects, ”defuses the Toulouse elected official in finance.
A cross-party idea
Jean-Luc Moudenc is also not alone in this crusade, which does not really have any political color. Stéphane Troussel, the socialist president of the Departmental Council of Seine-Saint-Denis did exactly the same proposal of “alternative scenario” this Wednesday to help finance daily transport. It falls in any case a few days from the conclusions of a Senate fact-finding mission on the financing of transport authorities. Marc Péré (various left), the mayor of the Union, near Toulouse, recalls that deputies, in particular LFI, have already proposed the removal of the cap on the Mobility Payment in an amendment to the 2023 Finance Law, stressing that “the 49- 3 by Madame Borne nipped this proposal in the bud”. “These are negotiations that must be carried out in a more subtle way,” retorts Sacha Briand, therefore confident in the power of persuasion of his councilor.