No less than 1.256 billion euros. This Tuesday, during a visit to Marseille, the Prime Minister signed a memorandum of understanding with the metropolis for a public transport development plan, as part of Emmanuel Macron’s plan for the Marseille city . A plan that includes a total of fifteen projects supposed to come out of the ground for 2030. 20 minutes make the point.
Four tram lines
It was one of the strong announcements of the President of the Republic when he came to Marseille. At the Pharo, Emmanuel Macron had announced the creation of four tram lines with, in sight, the opening up of the northern districts. “In this protocol, the State asks you to give priority to serving the northern districts (…), this is what you are agreeing to in this contractual document”, moreover recalled Jean Castex on Tuesday in addressing Martine Vassal.
After months of arm wrestling between the city and the metropolis, the president LR of the metropolis detailed before the head of government her roadmap, announcing the start of the extension works of T3 towards Gèze in the north and towards La Gaye. in the south from 2022, for implementation in 2026. “Behind, on the northern part, I changed the route to integrate the city of Marseille’s desire to go through the coast rather than the rue de Lyon, specifies Martine Vassal. It will be for 2028. ”The plan also provides for the extension of the tram from the Place de Rome to the Place du 4 Septembre.
Initially scheduled for 2030 and relegated to the rank of uncertain project, the birth of a new tram line between Saint-Charles station and the Belle de Mai seems to have been completed. This tram would even be extended in a second time to Merlan, as claimed by the town hall of Marseille.
Finally, another novelty, the plan includes, as a fourth line, the setting in motion of a real sea serpent in local political life: the Valtram, a 14.4 km tramway between Aubagne and Bouilladisse aimed at relieving congestion. the Huveaune valley. But for these latest projects, the timetable remains unclear. “The calendar today is a technical calendar, warns Martine Vassal. Unfortunately, it takes seven years to build a tram line. In 2030, we will have the fifteen structuring projects. “” The phasing is not in the text “, recognizes the deputy mayor of Marseille in charge of mobility, Audrey Gatian.
Five high-level bus lines and multimodal hubs
In accordance with the announcements of the President of the Republic, the plan also includes the development of five high-level service bus lines (BHNS). In detail, in addition to the famous B4 which connects Gèze to La Fourragère, the plan provides for the extension in Aix-en-Provence of Aixpress to Val Saint-André and the extension of another line between Plan-de -Campagn and the ZAC des Florides in Marignane. Two lines will also be created: one, 13.5 km long, would link Martigues to Port-de-Bouc, while the other would link Aubagne to Gémenos.
The credits released by the State will also be used for the creation of multimodal transport hubs in Plan-de-Campagne, Frais-Vallon, Saint-Antoine and Saint-André, and for the automation of the metro, whose work has already started.
A GIP to control the work
The government has also taken action to create a public interest group, known as GIP, in order to support the development of transport. Initially intended to be a company in charge of implementing this plan, this GIP actually ends up being an authority for the control of worksites and the use of credits granted by the State.
“The GIP’s board of directors is made up of the metropolis and the State,” explains Martine Vassal. I will assume the presidency. It is a commitment that I made to the Prime Minister. »The various municipalities concerned by the plan, including the city of Marseille, will sit in the general assembly of this GIP. “But it is the metropolis that will remain the prime contractor”, specifies Martine Vassal. The credits granted by the State will thus be directly integrated into the budget of the metropolis.