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PIA: 1st agreement financing public transport in separate lane
Transport infrastructure - 04 January 2012
The first agreement financing of public transportation in separate lane by the fund “Ville de demain” (Tomorrow City) of the Program of investments for the future (PIA in French) was signed on 21 December for the extension of the tramway line A in Clermont-Ferrand.
The project, presented by the Grand Clermont Ecocity and sponsored by local public transport operator Syndicat Mixte des Transports en Commun de l’agglomération clermontoise (SMTC), is the first of its kind to take concrete shape.
The agreement will pave the way for the development of an efficient, sustainable public transport system, in keeping with the Ecocity’s strategy. Extending line A beyond its current terminus at Champratel will open up access to the Vergnes district, which is scheduled for urban renovation.
The new section of line will cover 1.7 km and include three new stations and a multimodal hub, and will serve 7,500 inhabitants and 2,100 jobs.
The project will cost a total of €30mn, including €6.2mn for rolling stock, and will be funded in part by a subsidy of €1.89mn by the PIA’s Ville de demain fund and a €6mn Caisse des Dépôts loan from savings funds.
Work will begin in January 2012 and the line is expected to be open to travellers in the first half of 2013.
The agreement was signed by Serge Godard, Mayor of Clermont-Ferrand and President of SMTC, and Catherine Mayenobe, director of the Caisse des Dépôts PIA Mission, in the presence of Francis Lamy, Prefect of the Auvergne Region, and René Souchon, President of the Regional Council.
