François Durovray's Vision for Transport in Île-de-France
François Durovray, the newly appointed Minister of Transport and President of the Essonne departmental council, embarked on his first field visit to Île-de-France on September 26, 2023. His visit to the control center of line 14, a key part of the RATP network, highlighted his commitment to enhancing public transport in the region. The minister was received by Jean Castex, CEO of the RATP group, where they discussed the impressive performance of line 14 during the recent Olympic Games.
Line 14 has recently seen the addition of 59 new MP14 trains, contributing to a peak service interval of 105 seconds, with plans to improve this to 85 seconds in the future. During the Olympic Games, the line exceeded expectations, with Saint-Denis Pleyel station recording 20% of traffic heading to the Stade de France, significantly above the anticipated 10%. The line saw usage by around 800,000 passengers daily during 61 Olympic events, showcasing its critical role in the region's transport infrastructure.
Future Investments and Challenges Ahead
During his visit, Minister Durovray announced a meeting with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to discuss the future of the ring road, particularly her proposal to reduce the maximum speed to 50 km/h starting October 1. He acknowledged the legality of this decision but emphasized the need for a broader discussion on mobility issues that extend beyond the ring road. Durovray's proactive stance aims to coordinate improvements in public transport and reduce pollution for residents living near the ring road.
Additionally, Durovray signed the mobility component of the State-Region Plan Contract (CPER), which commits over 8.4 billion euros to enhance public transport in Île-de-France over the next four to five years. This investment will support key projects, including the Nexteo initiative to increase RER train frequency, the Grand Paris Express, and various line extensions. On the road infrastructure side, 620 million euros will be allocated to modernize facilities, ensuring greater comfort and safety for users.
