The Évolity project for transport service excellence (Transport à haut niveau de service, or THNS) was set up to improve the mobility of all those living in the Montbéliard urban area. The complete overhaul of the public transport network has opened up new possibilities for intermodality and helped reduce individual car usage, particularly for journeys between home and work. It has also contributed to the urban restructuring of the territory.
A state-of-the-art bus network is transforming the Montbéliard urban area
- 21 November 2019
Transport service excellence is improving mobility for locals, with services running to all the major economic, cultural and leisure hubs. It reduces recourse to individual cars, promoting the use of public transport and active transport methods such as cycling and walking. Use of public transport is encouraged by high-quality vehicles, maximum accessibility for people with reduced mobility, optimised frequency and timetabling, and real-time passenger information on buses, platforms and mobile apps.
While the Montbéliard urban area has historically favoured cars, the project sought to promote public transport as a more appropriate method of transportation.
The aim was to attract a new clientèle and reduce the modal share of individual cars in the area.
Improving the public transport network
The project was motivated by a desire to improve the public transport network and drive concomitant urban development. It is part of the area’s Urban Transport Plan (adopted in 2009) and responds to a global strategy of reflection on the reorganisation of traffic, urban redevelopment, the promotion of environmentally-friendly transport and the development of efficient public transport into a credible alternative to cars.
To make the public transport network more attractive, the action focused on several elements to improve service quality:
dedicated bus lanes to ensure public transport does not get caught in traffic congestion,traffic lights at intersections to help prioritise public transport,a state-of-the-art bus fleet offering spacious, accessible, comfortable and eco-friendly natural gas vehicles (NGVs),a rapid, regular and frequent service with extended timetables,real-time passenger information (on buses, on platforms and on smartphones),urban improvements to assist intermodality (interchanges adapted to usages, park and ride facilities, pedestrian and cycle routes).An excellent bus service
For this purpose, two THNS lines were laid, with a shared 9 km stretch offering services every eight minutes or better , plus an additional line connecting the hospital to the high-speed train station. 25 natural gas-fuelled articulated buses with a capacity of 166 passengers were acquired for lines 1, 2 and 3.
Then 7.6 km of cycle paths and 6.8 km of bus lanes were created. 120 bus platforms were installed in accordance with THNS standards for transport service excellence: raised platforms, real-time passenger information screens and a lit pole indicating the presence of the station. 54 intersections with traffic lights were prioritised for buses. Two interchanges and two park and rides were created. The project has even given rise to many compensatory measures, such as an infiltration basin, a retention basin, a wildlife corridor and various facilities for birds, squirrels and bats.
During the works and the various developments involved in the project, the public works and complementary facilities generated around 600 jobs, including 23 000 hours of training .
Furthermore, the project has improved the living environment of the locals, thanks to the creation of cycle and pedestrian routes, which facilitate intermobility by improving the urban environment. It has also helped to promote intermodality, thanks to the Montbéliard interchange and the park and ride facilities. Finally, it has contributed to economic dynamism during the works and on the routes served by the THNS lines.
Total investment and European funding
Total investment for the ‘Évolity’ project is EUR 7 266 280; the European Regional Development Fund contribution is EUR 2 906 512 through the ‘ERDF/ESF OP for Franche-Comté and Jura’ cooperation programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the ‘Energy and Climate Union’ priority.