The study visit gave participants the chance to find out more about the past and future approaches of STIF, the local public transport authority, to train stations in the Paris region.
With 4.2 million trips made daily on its network, the Paris region’s 445 RER and train stations present rich possibilities for intermodality. Fully aware of this potential, STIF, the regional public transport authority, has been endeavouring to transform its stations into multimodal hubs since 2006, with a primary goal of offering efficient and connected mobility solutions to passengers. In partnership with other public transport stakeholders (such as French operators SNCF and RATP, and the public authorities of the Île-de-France Region, local départements and towns), several initiatives have already been introduced, for an overall cost of 1.14 billion euros.
Thanks to this proactive policy, more than 550 park-and-ride facilities and 4,000 bike parking spaces have now been installed close to stations. Accessibility and passenger information have not been neglected either. Indeed, by 2012, 112 stations had been equipped with facilities for disabled people, and the whole transport network had been equipped with passenger information systems. Meanwhile, a broad plan to equip every station with information screens should be completed by the end of the year. Despite these measures and a various developments currently in progress, STIF is aware that much else remains to be done.
The transport authority is dedicated to going even further in the years to come, with a broad range of operations launched as part of the region’s Urban Mobility Plan.
The most recent of these, adopted in 2014, is dedicated to increasing public transport capacity by 20 % by 2020.
The plans divide stations into three categories: 43 major hubs, with more than 15,000 travellers per day; 184 stations in dense areas, with more than 2,500 travellers per day; and 218 stations in less busy areas (less than 2 500 travellers per day). This ranking has made it possible to target specific actions depending on the size and importance of each station. It has also paved the way to determining common goals for the three categories in terms of quality of service, such as passenger information in real time, improved safety measures, optimisation of bus connections, improved accessibility in pedestrian zones and the development of secure bike and car parking spaces.
The purpose is to ensure that “all stations meet the standard of quality requirements” by 2020, according to the project document, which explains also that “station projects will have to be developed and completed in no more than five years”.
Intermodality in Railway and RER station is at the forefront of the Ile-de-France urban mobility plan. What are the STIF priorities at this level?
In terms of railway and RER stations, our goal is better organisation of intermodal equipment, e.g. bus stations, park and rides – especially for suburban stations – and bike parks such as the Véligo program. We are also committed to redesigning roads to provide room for pedestrians and bicycles, as well as a reorganisation of station layouts to improve circulation and accessibility.
Finally, we are developing a policy of services that meets the expectations of travellers in terms of multimodal information, welcome and ticket sales. To achieve this, STIF has developed plans that set levels of expected services for each of these priorities. STIF is also working closely with communities to carry out this ambitious programme.
To improve the quality of passenger services, STIF has already provided more than 400 million euros in financing for facilities and plans to provide another 1.7 billion euros by 2025.
Interview conducted by Nathalie Leclerc, co-founder of the European Club of Intermodal Regions and Cities.
To read the full interview with Jean-Christophe Monnet, please visit busetcar.com.