With the arrival of two new tram lines in 2019, the Nice urban transport network is set to evolve. Yesterday, Christian Estrosi, alongside Philippe Pradal, presented these new developments benefiting the entire network at the Tramway Operational Center (COT) – Henri Sappia.
The public transport network is evolving and continues to follow the directions defined by the global transport scheme desired since 2009 by Christian Estrosi.
At the heart of this roadmap: more efficient, cleaner mobility thanks to ever more advanced, innovative technologies making it easier to travel within the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan area. With the arrival of two new tram lines in 2019, the urban transport network will evolve.
“With the new tram lines 2 and 3, we had to completely rethink the current bus network to make it more efficient, reliable, and suited to our territory and each person’s travel needs,” announced C. Estrosi yesterday.
The arrival of these two new tram lines is a mobility accelerator allowing bus/tram synergies: 90% of Nice’s population and 75% of the metropolitan population will be served by a tram or a bus passing every 15 minutes (within 500m). “80% of journeys made on public transport will be made by tram or tram-effect lines,” continued Philippe Pradal.
The lines will be renumbered to offer a simplified service improving route readability, with more direct lines.
- Tram lines from 1 to 3
- “Tram-effect” lines from 5 to 9: bus lines with the same characteristics as the tram regarding frequency and range.
- Essential lines from 11 to 29: These are the network’s “backbone” lines, with high frequency.
- Proximity lines from 30 to 99: Intra or inter-district mesh lines. They also offer connections with major lines.
And a new network means rethought facilities, to promote intermodality and multimodality:
“More park-and-ride facilities, bike parks. Easier connections significantly reducing walking distances between two lines, and nearly 600 redeveloped stops
(…) We will make circulation more peaceful and smooth on the Promenade and the city center: 120 electric bus passages per day on the Promenade against more than 1000 thermal buses today. Transformation of bus lanes into green ways and bike paths,” announced Christian Estrosi yesterday.
Each transport mode in the Metropolis will also see its offer improved: more offers, more range…
The development of the network will also come with an upgrade of all equipment and the customer environment:
“We will offer users an upgrade of services for ticket purchase, real-time tracking, and increased security thanks to numerous innovations,” explained the Mayor of Nice.
“(…) Our trams benefit from a video-protection system connected in real-time to the urban supervision center. We will develop similar technology for our buses starting with the night buses, which will be equipped with alert buttons similar to existing devices in our schools or public establishments.”
A 100% electric line, from 2019, will connect Saint Laurent du Var to Nice City Center via the Promenade. “We aim for a gradual transition to electric across the entire network starting with lines running on city center bus lanes.”
“This network evolution is the result of a comprehensive reflection initiated with users, transport referents, and neighborhood committees.” concluded C. Estrosi alongside Philippe Pradal in front of about fifty listeners present for the occasion.
This conference was the first step of the process of presentation and discussions about this new network. On Tuesday, October 23, the presentation will be made to transport referents; then will come the one for the Territorial Councils, an advisory body.
