A new lane comes into service this Tuesday, September 13 on the National 481, which extends the A48 to the foot of the Bastille, in the Lyon-Grenoble direction. This Lane Reserved for Public Transport (VRTC) must in particular allow buses to escape the traffic jams that can regularly form on this axis.
A system not entirely new but now more flexible
It should be noted that priority vehicles of general interest, such as ambulances, firefighters or police officers, can also use this route, as well as those benefiting from transit facilities (fund transport, carers participating in the permanence of care, winter service ,…). For all, however, the speed will be limited to 50km/h.
More than an opening, we could almost speak of a reopening. This VRTC actually replaces the Specialized Shared Way (VSP), in place from 2007 to 2020, a project piloted by the Department of Isère. The principle was much the same, with one notable difference: the VSP was activated in the event of traffic jams, with dynamic signaling, which asked bus drivers to take it and not leave it. With the more flexible VRTC, they now have the choice of taking it and leaving it at any time, depending on what suits them. Another change: the maximum number of buses allowed per hour is increased from 30 to 100.