D-The projects proposed for the Greater Paris
D -a Public transports projects
Grand Paris project is at the moment mainly focus on the
improvement of the transportation system, which is an important point according
to the economic growth it can generate. Indeed as we have seen, the government
is going to create an automatic tube going around Paris, to link all the
different economic centers of the region. Two projects were in confrontation:
the regional project named «Arc Express» (created and supported by
Jean-Paul Huchon) and the governmental one (created and supported by Christian
Blanc named «Grand Huit»). Nevertheless, a compromise has been found
between these two parties, such as the two projects will complement each
other.
This compromise has been mainly found due to the general will
to accomplish the mission given by the president. The region and the government
created a new plan, in order to have both of the projects unified in one single
plan.
Christian Blanc and Jean-Paul Huchon created an automatic
transport system, which has the objective to reduce the journey time of the
Parisians by 20 to 30 minutes on average.
96Figure 8: New automatic transport
system of Paris Ile-de-France
Indeed, the ten agencies consulted for the Great Paris have
also proposed projects to improve the actual situation. Roger Strik Harbour +
Partners London School of Economics Arup proposition also pointed out the
necessity to create a network around Paris, by connecting all the economic
centers97.
The agency proposed the creation of three «belts»
around Paris, the first belt would be composed by a tramway following the ring
of the city of Paris, to permit a better displacement around the city centre,
to go from a gate to another quickly. The second ring of transports will be
positioned in the close suburbs («petite couronne») composed by a
suburban RER as this area is really densified, it would also link to Le Bourget
Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. This public transport line would
permit a direct connection between airports and business areas, which is one of
the main point raised by the government. The third ring would connect the
suburbs place positioned further from the city center, but which still have a
really important place in the good functioning developing of Paris. Indeed this
line would link Orly Airport, Le plateau de Saclay. This would work because of
a system of tram/train connection. Where the proposition distinguishes itself,
it is by proposing a TGV link between La Défense-Boulogne
Billancourt-Massy to connect all the west suburban area, and also to link it to
the airports thanks to a high speed transportation infrastructure.
According to the agency, these changing would create a complete
network around Paris. By
connecting these nodal points of the Parisian
economy, it would ensure their economic growth, but
96
www.impots-utiles.com
97 Roger Stirk Harbour, Le Grand Pari(s), Consultation
internationale sur l'avenir de la métropole Parisienne, PP.46
would also attract more people to live there. Even if this
plan keeps the region under a polycentric approach, it would give a better
repartition of population and economic growth, and would reduce the impact on
the environment.98 The following map shows the project proposed by
the agency
99Figure 9: Roger Stirk Harbour
proposition of transport lines for the Greater Paris
Another proposition done by the agency Atelier Christian De
Portzamparc to improve the public transports system of Paris Ile-de-France is
the creation of 22 stations around Paris (transport line of 35
kms)100.
Atelier Castro/Denissof/Casi as the others recommended the
creation of a public transport line going around Paris, to link the cities,
with tubes, tramways and trains (named «Le parcours
poétique»). The interesting innovation proposed by the agency, is
the creation of public fluvial transports on the Seine and Marne
rivers101.
98 Roger Stirk Harbour, Le Grand Pari(s), Consultation
internationale sur l'avenir de la métropole Parisienne, PP.46
99 Roger Stirk Harbour, Le Grand Pari(s), Consultation
internationale sur l'avenir de la métropole Parisienne, PP.46
100 Atelier Christian De Portzamparc, Le Grand Pari(s),
Consultation internationale sur l'avenir de la métropole Parisienne, P.P
119
101 Atelier Castro/Denissof/ Casi, Le Grand Pari(s), Consultation
internationale sur l'avenir de la métropole Parisienne, P.P 223
The agency gave also the idea to create five new stations all
located in the suburbs, in order to create equilibrium in the region. The
agency advocates the creation of these stations in Versailles, La
Défense, Stains, Bobigny Noisy-Le-Sec and Ile de Vitry. All these
stations would be connected to each other and would have an economic role to
develop their areas, and to improve the connections of the national
TGVs102.
Indeed, by building these new centers of displacements, it
would generate the creation of new important centers around Paris and
facilitate the national transport connections (from west to east) through Paris
by enlarging the center and reduce the traveler concentration. The Gare Sud
(station proposed to be built by the agency at Vitry), would ensure the
economic growth of Val de Seine (area around this place), by giving a more
convenient access, which lead to an attractiveness for the companies. The
following map shows the plan created by the agency in order to succeed their
project.
103Figure 10: Atelier Castro/Denissof/
Casi proposition of transport lines for the Greater Paris
| 
