This is a first in France, the European metropolis of Lille voted, Friday, December 16, the establishment of an “ecobonus” to relieve traffic jams on the A1 and A23. Motorists will be able to receive up to 80 euros per month. A measure contested by environmentalists.
To be paid to leave his car in the garage during rush hour. This is the meaning of the so-called “positive toll” or “reverse toll” measure voted by the European metropolis of Lille (MEL), Friday, December 16.
From the spring of 2023, the MEL will set up a bonus paid to motorists who give up driving alone in busy periods – morning and evening therefore – on the most congested axes around Lille, namely the A1 and the A23.
This “ecobonus”, presented as a “anti-traffic jam asset”, is inspired by a measure observed by elected officials from Lille in 2015 in Rotterdam. But this is a first in France.
Will be eligible for the bonus those who change means of transport, but also those who start carpooling, and those who shift their trips to less intense hours. “We target self-soloists”, underlined the president of the MEL Damien Castelain.
The motorists concerned will receive two euros per avoided journey, declared on an application. And could thus pocket up to 80 euros per month. A maximum cap specified the MEL.
The principle, simple on paper, is a matter of real engineering. Indeed, this measure is based on an automated license plate reading system. To find out which car was driving during rush hour and is no longer driving.
Motorists are therefore called upon to volunteer from the spring of 2023. Then 5,000 of them will be registered in the summer of 2023, for an initial nine-month program.
The MEL hopes for example a reduction in traffic of 750 vehicles out of the 12,000 present on the A1 in the morning at rush hour, she said in a press release.
The device, with an overall duration of three years, should cost around nine million euros.
Attractive at first sight, this measure is not without raising disputes. The environmental advisers, who voted against, speak “of a gasworks”. “It’s a lot of public money, for a very uncertain result”, laments Pauline Sgard, elected EELV of Villeneuve d’Ascq.
From an environmental point of view, the latter also denounces a measure which will not “no effect on greenhouse gas emissions or pollution”. And to clarify his thoughts: “People who will benefit from this “ecobonus” can very well simply postpone their car trip to a time other than rush hour.”
Rudy Elegeest, EELV metropolitan councilor of Mons-en-Baroeul, is just as skeptical on the issue: “For us it’s a very curious idea, insofar as we consider that these thousands of motorists could do otherwise. We think that if they don’t do it, they can’t do it. ” And to add: “iI think that we must concentrate our means on the offer of public transport.”
On Twitter, the collective “Usager.es transports MEL”, denounces a “inconsistency” in this measurement. Indeed, while motorists are encouraged to turn to public transport, the association regrets that the unit ticket for these has increased this summer.
This metropolitan council gave birth to other deliberations this Friday, December 16. Among them, the establishment of the routes and orientations of the two future tram lines. See the map below.
The MEL also announces the launch of a “swimming pool plan”, aimed at “develop the practice of swimming and better equip the territory”. To do this, the city will continue to invest in existing infrastructure. An envelope of 600,000 million euros will also top up the budget allocated to municipalities as part of learning to swim at school.
Also, the MEL is appealing to municipalities wishing to build new swimming pools “able to accommodate young people learning to swim and high-level metropolitan clubs”. The municipalities will have to finance 30% of the work and contribute to 50% of the operating deficit.
With AFP