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"Our over-reliance on cars and $4-per-gallon gasoline has led us to dig a really deep hole for ourselves. The Purple Line is the ladder that helps us climb up out of this hole toward the light of rational land use, friendly commutes and a stable climate." Mike Tidwell, director of CCAN |  |
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Opens First New Light Rail in Almost 70 years! January, 2007 The City of Paris is once again demonstrating its leadership in the world. With an opening ceremony attended by a host of world leaders, the first stretch of the new T-3 Tram Line, a circumferential light rail line like the Purple Line was inaugurated last month. The starter segment, which cost $411 million, runs 7.9 km (4.89 mi.) between the Pont du Garigliano and Port d’Ivry passing through three arrondissements (13th, 14th and 15th) and seven inner-suburban boroughs. The new segment serves a University – the Citė Universitaire and includes 16 other stops. While Paris has the most extensive public transit system in the world, regional growth has revealed the system’s weaknesses. The network functions well for bringing people into and around the center of Paris, but works less effectively in moving people from suburb to suburb. On the outskirts of Paris, more than 40% of all trips are made by car, compared to 2/3 of all trips within Paris being made by pubic transit. Along the T-3 corridor, existing bus service is slow and the buses are overcrowded. A new underground Metrorail line was deemed to be too expensive. The light rail line is designed to carry up to 100,000 people each day – double the capacity of the buses that previously served the route. Trains will operate every 4 minutes during rush hour and every 8 minutes during off-peak times. The project included major improvements to the pedestrian and bicycling environment with wider sidewalks, safer cross walks, bike lanes, and improved landscaping all designed to encourage people to get out of their cars. A major focus in planning was on reducing noise levels along the busy corridor. Improved lighting was another significant benefit of the project. Special lighting was designed for the route with more than 4,000 new lights installed in coordination with the landscaping and integrated with the light rail’s overhead power distribution (catenary) system. While lighting was dramatically improved, the overall power consumption was reduced through the use of higher efficiency metallic iodide lamps. The City of Paris developed a clear strategy for protecting the businesses located along the 7 Boulevards impacted by this project. Business expansion continued during construction with the number of businesses growing 12.7% (from 580 to 655) between 2003 and 2006. A dispute resolution committee was set up by the City of Paris and railroad authority and compensation packages have been developed for 37 businesses who suffered negative impacts from construction. The vacancy rate for commercial space along the corridor was reported to be 7.6% which is lower than the rate in Paris as a whole. This new line is an initiative of the strongly pro-environmental administration of Mayor Bertrand Delanoe while also being part of a nationwide policy towards investment in light rail transit, with new lines scheduled to provide service in Valenciennes, Mulhouse and Saint-Etienne next year. |
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68,000 riders each weekday is huge! Counting down to completion of Purple Line DEIS; Latest news: Latest News; How you can help 
See: We need you to help keep the Purple Line a state and county priority. Write a letter, make a call or send an e-mail in support of the Purple Line today. See: Contact List |
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