The Azure Regional Express Metropolitan Service (SERM) project is reaching a new milestone. Institutional partners have validated the overall framework that should strengthen public transportation, rail connections and soft mobility in the Alpes-Maritimes and towards Monaco over the next fifteen years.
The steering committee of the Regional Express Metropolitan Service (SERM) in the Azure region met on July 8 under the presidency of the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Laurent Hottiaux, in the presence of Jean-Pierre Serrus, Vice-President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region. This meeting made it possible to validate the overall framework designed to improve mobility options in the territory.
The SERM aims to offer more frequent and better coordinated transportation between major cities and suburban areas. The system is based on strengthening the rail network, complemented by high-quality road transport and infrastructure dedicated to cycling mobility.
Partners wish to address a well-identified problem in the Alpes-Maritimes. Transportation networks are experiencing strong pressure from daily commutes by residents, employees and visitors. The project aims to limit the role of private cars, promote public transportation, carpooling and soft mobility, while reducing road congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
Reinforced trains, trams, express buses and cycling network
The validated framework sets several priorities. Partners want to strengthen multimodal services around trains and urban transportation, improve connections with the middle and upper country regions, facilitate travel to employment centers in Nice, Monaco and Sophia Antipolis, develop decarbonized transportation solutions and simplify connections between different networks.
The project implementation will extend until 2040. Several projects have already been identified. The program includes in particular the commissioning of the New Provence Côte d’Azur Line, the creation of a rail shuttle between Nice and Monaco from 2028 as well as improvements to the Chemins de fer de Provence.
The framework also includes the creation or extension of three tramway lines (lines 4 and 5), two new public transportation lines, twelve express bus lines, a structured cycling network at the territory level and the strengthening of twenty-seven multimodal interchange hubs to facilitate connections between different modes of transport.
The project brings together State services, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the Alpes-Maritimes Department, territorial intercommunalities, the Major Projects Company as well as the Principality of Monaco.
The framework must now be submitted to the Ministry of Transport for approval. This step will then make it possible to gradually begin implementing the Azure Regional Express Metropolitan Service, with monitoring assured by all public partners.
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