The extension of tram line 1 from Pont Michel to Pasteur will bring in 5,000 additional users. The service is expected to start in 2013. The announcement of this project is an opportunity for an update on the “tramway” plan. In fact, this is only the first step in the network’s expansion. Ultimately, line 1 will reach La Trinité within the next 20 years. As for line 2, scheduled for May 2016, it will cover the port, airport, and CADAM.
Line 1
The extension of tram line 1, with a length of 450 m, will go from Pont Michel to Pasteur (in front of Square Lentulo). The diversion of networks (electricity, gas, water, etc.) began in June and should finish in November.
Avenue Joseph Raybaud will be one-way from September 7th to 23rd.
Meanwhile, there will be only one lane for each direction of traffic on the Roman Road from September 5th to November 4th. The widening of Pont Coty will begin in October and will take 12 months.
The main subject in December: development of rails, roadways, and urban planning, as well as technical tests. The line is expected to be launched in spring 2013.
The project cost is estimated at €23.9M, subsidized not only by the General Council, the Region, and the State but also by European credits (ERDF).
Line 2
The creation of the East/West line will allow travel from the port to the airport and the Administrative Center in less than 30 minutes. Part of the route will be underground.
Since July 2010, geotechnical surveys to determine the nature of the soils are underway. The studies for the implementation of the project have begun and will be unveiled in the autumn of 2011. Work will start in mid-2012.
The line is expected to be operational in 2016.
And after?
A line 3 should cover the Var valley, thus connecting the airport to Lingostière.
With a length of 7.7 km, it would reach the Chemins de Fer de Provence. A line 4 should cover the West zone from Saint-Augustin to Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer. The route would extend over 6.4 km.
All these projects aim to achieve by 2030 an interaction of transport means with 4 multimodal hubs.
- Saint-Augustin: trams, trains, buses, airport, bicycles.
- Gare Thiers: trams, trains, buses, bicycles.
- Pont Michel: trams, trains, buses, bicycles.
- Lingostière: trams, buses, bicycles, Chemins de Fer de Provence.
