Sunday evening, Emmanuel Macron announced that he wanted to develop the RER “in ten French metropolises”.
Toulouse, which could be among the cities selected, already has a metropolitan RER project, but carried by the association "Rallumons l'étoile".
The communities say they are ready to consider this project, provided that the State participates in the financing, and that the studies demonstrate its effectiveness.
In Toulouse, the metropolitan RER did not wait for Emmanuel Macron to speak to become a subject.
For several years, there have been a few rhythmic lines, departing from Toulouse and heading towards Muret or Colomiers.
But only at peak times.
These proposals are therefore far from being equivalent to a real regional express network which could bring a solution to the traffic jams of the agglomeration.
This is why the “Rallumons l'étoile” collective has been carrying out a railway star project for a long time on the existing tracks.
It would take the form of six RER lines, irrigating the metropolis and beyond, with a frequency every half hour from 5 am to midnight.
Its members, in partnership with Jean-Jaurès University, have also launched a major survey of citizens to gather their opinion on the issue and enrich the debate.
How do you move?
And what could be the impact for you of a first phase of the #RERtoulousain?
➡️ The survey is on!
With Master students #Transmob @UTJeanJaures#campusmirail @Univ_Toulousehttps://t.co/fh46JVpAqr pic.twitter.com/igE1I8seKJ
"Let's rekindle the Star!"
(@Rallumonsetoile) November 24, 2022
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After having been ignored for a long time by politicians, who considered this project impossible in view of the current saturation of railway lines, this "transpartisan and independent" association has received a more favorable response in recent weeks.
The president of the Occitanie region, Carole Delga, indicated that the idea of a railway star should be supported, a study on its feasibility has also been launched by the regional council.
A financial commitment from the State necessary
But beyond the effects of announcements, elected officials want these investments in new infrastructure for an RER not to be carried by the communities alone.
Already launched in its third metro line, the cost of which has been reassessed at 3 billion euros, the president of the Metropolis, Jean-Luc Moudenc, wants "a financial commitment from the State" if such a project sees the light of day.
“We must beware of thinking that the RER would be a magic formula that would succeed in solving the problems of congestion in metropolitan areas.
We need to know what routes to serve, what timing, what investments for what attendance and who will finance their operation.
On all these questions we have no answers, ”says the city councilor who should not get his hands on the pot.
He believes that the Metropolis and Tisséo have already participated by taking part in studies on the railway developments in the north of Toulouse, necessary for the creation of the future LGV and which would free up the tracks to develop the frequencies of the TER in the RER version.
It also highlights intermodality with the existing stations of the third metro line, work on which will begin soon.
Start by clocking every half hour
Even if he must soon sit around the table to address this issue alongside the political leaders of other communities, his limited enthusiasm is not to the taste of the opposition to the Metropolis of Toulouse.
“Jean-Luc Moudenc locks himself into an all-metro policy, to the detriment of the inhabitants who need a network throughout the metropolitan territory.
What's more, this network would make it possible to reduce car travel, which generates pollution and has become increasingly restricted since the establishment of the ZFE.
It is time to get out of dogmatism on this question, and to seize the opportunity of state aid on the file”, pleads the members of the group Alternative Municipale Citoyenne.
However, all the metropolitan groups came together at the end of October on a unanimously voted wish for concrete progress for the Toulouse RER, partly taking up the positions of the “Rallumons l'étoile” collective.
“Today, we have to get down to business.
It is legitimate for Jean-Luc Moudenc to ask questions about the benefits of this measure, it is not a question of writing a blank check.
If we want to move forward quickly, with reasonable implementation costs by 2024 and the deployment of the ZFE, we have to think about the timing of a train every half hour all day.
It is feasible on the current tracks and the surplus revenue will compensate for the excess expenditure, ”says Benoît Lanusse, one of the co-founders of this militant association for more mobility.
And to support his remarks, he takes as an example Strasbourg where this timing will see the light of day on December 11, with the financial support of the region and the metropolis.
Company
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Paris
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Company
Toulouse
Occitania
RER
TER
Carole Delga
Jean-Luc Moudenc
SNCF
Tisseo