The newly formed Metropolis of Lyon will not be voyaging into the unknown as it tackles intermodality in the months and years ahead. Significant efforts have already been undertaken in the sphere of interconnection, and the local area has benefited from a number of innovative measures. We take a look at the most noteworthy.
The need to develop infrastructure dedicated to soft modes and public transport has been another area of focus, leading to several innovative solutions. Among these are the Pont Raymond-Barre, a bridge designed for trams and soft modes which was completed in February 2014 during extension works on the T1 tramway line. Similarly, the passerelle de la Paix footbridge, which can be used by pedestrians and cyclists, opened in the north of Lyon in March, while the new Croix-Rousse tunnel was inaugurated in 2013. Built alongside a road tunnel and based on an old safety tunnel, this new tunnel crosses the Lyon peninsula and, at 1.7 km, is the longest sustainable transport tunnel in the world. Much used by cyclists, the tunnel has nonetheless proved a victim of its own success, with a number of accidents necessitating modifications such as an increase in luminosity and the removal of benches.
Save for a few exceptions, transport interconnectability has been bolstered thanks to a number of measures. These include initiatives relating to passenger information – for example, the Optimod’Lyon project, launched in 2012, which offers services such as a real-time, predictive route calculator – and ticketing, with one significant development being the OÙRA! card, a ticket that can be used on the TER regional rail service and several Rhône-Alpes urban networks. The development of various multi-modal hubs has also boosted intermodality, with one such hub opening at Oullins station in December 2013 as part of the extension of Line B of the Lyon metro.
The hallmark of intermodality is connected and varied networks, and the Metropolis of Lyon inherited an array of transport modes as wide-ranging as they are interlinked and complementary. The TCL (Keolis) network boasts no fewer than four metro lines, for example, as well as five tramway lines, 97 bus routes, eight trolley bus lines and two funicular railways – all of which accommodate 382 million passengers a year. Soft and alternative modes enjoy pride of place as well, with Lyon managing 345 Vélo’v bike-sharing stations in addition to several car-sharing services (including Citiz, which has 1,200 subscribers and 95 vehicles) and carpool schemes.