The decision has been made: unfavorable opinion. The public inquiry commission issued its conclusions on the project to extend line 1 of the metro between Château de Vincennes and Val-de-Fontenay, east of Paris, on Monday evening May 2. The extension, which today seems compromised, was to join Vincennes and Fontenay-sous-Bois, in Val-de-Marne (94), while creating two new stations in charge of also serving Montreuil, in Seine-Saint-Denis (93).
Several negative criteria led to this unanimous unfavorable opinion, according to Jean-Pierre Chaulet, the president of the commission of inquiry. “The average gain [de trajet] was 9 minutes for more than 50% of the populationexplains the commissioner. Related to cost of the investment which borders on 1.8 billion [d’euros]we considered that [le projet] was not fundamental, when it comes to public money.”
Social and economic arguments
It also points to inconvenience for residents of retirement homes, especially in Vincennes, during the work. Last argument put forward: “It was necessary to expropriate the companies, with a loss of around 400 jobs“adds Jean-Pierre Chaulet, on the artisanal zone of Neuilly-Plaisance, where the start of the 5 km long tunnel boring machine and train repair center.
For Île-de-France Mobilités, which is carrying out the metro 1 extension project to the east of Paris, “this project is vital because it allows to open up the east of Vincennes, the south of Montreuil and Fontenay-sous-Bois in lack of public transport“. “We will look at the conclusions of the investigating commissioner and respond to them so that this project can be done”advances the establishment to France Bleu Paris.
Neighborhoods cut off from transport
Extension to the suburbs is also a necessity for elected officials. Pierre Serne, municipal councilor (EELV) in Montreuil, explains: “It made it possible to open up the district of Bel Air – Grands Pêchers, where the tens of thousands of inhabitants have almost no access to public transport.”
An association has even been created since 2005 to bring this transport project to Fontenay-sous-Bois: Métro aux Rigollots. “In the sector, the circulation of cars and buses is not at all optimal”, says Sylvain Blanquet, its president. On returning to the metro extension, he sees “the ousting of a solution to solve an “always present problem”.
67,000 signatures to preserve the Bois de Vincennes
On the other hand, the collective “Touche pas à mon Bois” is delighted with the unfavorable opinion given by the commission of inquiry. The group had launched a petition to save the Bois de Vincennes which should have been partly redeveloped with the works. It collected nearly 67,000 signatures. “The cleared surface is a space that is hundreds of years old and notable oak trees that are over 200 years old“defends Guillaume, one of the members of the collective.
However, the decision of the commission of inquiry is not final. The latter has only an advisory opinion. The Val-de-Marne prefecture will be the last to issue the final act of repeal or not extension of line 1. The extension of the metro has in any case not finished making people squeal.