Paris Approves Plan to Reduce Traffic by 40% by 2020

The Paris Link reports:

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë has unveiled his plans to cut traffic in the capital by 40%. The plans, which also aim to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 60%, has met serious opposition with both drivers and right-wing parties.

Despite this opposition, the Mayor’s detailed plans were adopted by the town council. The plans cannot go into effect until local elections in 2008, which Bertrand is expected to win.

The plan includes the extension of the recently terminated tramway all the way to the Porte d’Asnières in the north-west of the city by 2013. The addition of "civilised thoroughfares" will give priority to buses and bicycles, while the troubled line 13 will see further trains and a new signal system. A sixth RER (express suburban metro) line has also been proposed which will link Saint Lazare and Montparnasse stations in the north-west and the south-west of the city respectively.


Transport will be free for those living under the poverty threshold, while the banks of the Seine will become fully pedestrianised. Indeed, a number of areas may become pedestrianised throughout the city, while speed limits will be reduced in areas such as Beaubourg.

The boulevard Peripherique, the motorway the circles the city, will be forced to include a lane that allows the quick passage of buses, taxes and emergency vehicles.

Le Monde offers more details on the traffic plan (in French).

Photo: ArnoldPouteau/Flickr

  • London, Paris, Portland and many other cities of all sizes are leading the way in building a 21st Century integrated and sustainable transportation system. NYC continues to rest on its laurels of a subway system built more than 60 years ago.

  • Mitch

    “civilised thoroughfares” — what a lovely concept!

  • John

    Yeah Glenn, so is Mexico city

  • Angus Grieve-Smith

    The Le Monde article is actually more about congestion pricing proposals for Paris and the reactions of various people to them. I thought it was so interesting that I translated and annotated it for you all:

    http://www.grieve-smith.com/personal/paristraffic.html

  • Gizler

    Thank god for Europe spearheading sensible public policies. It is amazing how long our political leadership is able to ignore evidence (from Stockholm, London, etc) that discredits the arguments they use to defend their autophilia.

  • Thanks, Angus!

  • Thank-you Angus. I hope to refer to this story in an article in our next issue, and your translation has helped a great deal.

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