The city of Nantes in Southern France is widely praised within Europe for its public transport strategy. In France national legislation requires agglomerations above 100,000 inhabitants to develop a Plans de Déplacements Urbains or PDU (a French SUMP). Nantes’ public transport measures have garnered awards for their sustainability - in 2009 the city won “CIVITAS city of the year” for its sustainable urban transport policy and was awarded the title of European Green Capital 2013. Measures that led to the award include the development of a clean bus fleet 80% powered by compressed natural gas, and a quality and performance mark for bus lines. The promotion of bicycles as a means of transport, including fold away bicycles capable of being taken on public transport also contributed, as did the remodelling of city centre roads to favour public transport over private vehicles. The city’s excellent tram system was also noted by judges.
Nantes was one of five cities that took part in the CIVITAS Vivaldi project, an EU funded transport initiative. The project sought to implement “an integrated package of innovative transport strategies and measures” that would improve urban vitality, economic success, social inclusion, health and sustainability. VIVALDI led to a substantial reduction in emissions of air pollutants and noise.
As part of the programme Nantes modernised its bus fleet, bringing the bus system up to the same level as the tram system. Working with CIVITAS, the city set goals to (Eltis, n.d.):
- provide public transport services with non-polluting vehicles for 70% of the total mileage and 90% of total trips by the end of 2005 (vehicle kilometres)
- renew the bus fleet by purchasing 155 new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses (125 standards, 30 articulated)
- provide the necessary infrastructure for the renewed fleet in the form of a new CNG fuelling station in the south east of the city
This was achieved in 2005. As a result of the measures, fuel costs decreased by 7% and emissions of particulates by 90%. Today 282 buses run on natural gas out of 352 (80% of the total fleet).
The city’s public transport fleet has undergone numerous upgrades to increase their efficiency and sustainability. Nantes was the first city in Europe to introduce the electric tram, which was opened in 1985. Today the city has 79 trams and one of France’s longest tramways.
Nantes has also reclaimed road space from private vehicles and allocated it to public transport. The highway RN801, previously only suitable for private vehicles, has been dramatically narrowed for cars, and a bus lane has been incorporated in the centre. Space has also been provided for cyclists.
One of Nantes major infrastructure improvements has been the implementation of the innovative “Busway” into its public transport network. The Busway combines the advantages of a tram way with a bus route. Much like a tram, the bus has dedicated lanes, priority at intersections, modernised stations, a high frequency of leaving times, extended operating hours and four park-and-ride facilities. The route connects the ring road circling the city with the city centre. The Busway has been a resounding success, attracting 28,000 daily passengers by 2010, reducing car traffic by between 40 and 70% (depending on the section of the road), and creating a calmer environment for other road users.
The city has also implemented the Chronobus and Bus Express – high frequency buses with dedicated lanes and roundabouts to improve efficiency.
Car-pooling options have been improved, with specific carpooling areas created and access for companies running corporate travel plans made more feasible.
Nantes is reducing traffic through utilising parking spaces as a way to encourage public transport use. Since 2002 there has been a 64% increase in “Park and Ride” stations constructed, leading to a 10 – 15% rise in use annually.
Planning
Nantes realised that transport is a major contributor to emissions within the city (responsible for 29% in total) and uses its SUMP to ensure it is providing the most efficient transport possibilities for citizens. The City has enacted two SUMPs previously (1991 – 2000, 2000 – 2010), and is currently on its third SUMP (2010 – 2015), as illustrated by figure 1 below.
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1985 1st tram line |
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2006 BusWay |
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2000-2010: 2d MP |
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1991-2000: 1st MP |
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New SUMP: 2010 – 2015, 2030 prospects |
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2002-2006 CIVITAS VIVALDI |
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2012-2013 7 Chronobus lines |
The most recent SUMP is based on four axes: Living centres, Proximity, Networking and Behaviour.
Living centres aims to promote alternative transport methods to private vehicles and to create a city of “short spaces”, reducing distances travelled within living centres, ensuring that amenities are nearby and do not require motor vehicles to access.
Proximity concerns allocating space previously reserved for private vehicles to public transport and “soft” means of transport.
Networking relates to connecting living centres through transport networks, including rail, bus and bicycle paths.
Behaviour aims to effect behavioural change through information campaigns, awareness raising and other measures such as the continued adaptation of mobility services.
The cities action plan is broken down into five aspects: 1. Creating the city of short spaces, 2. Building quality public spaces, 3. Organising mobility networks, 4. Encouraging behavioural change, 5. Monitoring and assessing the SUMP (Nantes Métropole, n.d.).
In order to create intelligent mobility solutions, it is important that mobility and urban planning are integrated in so far as possible. Mobility solutions feed into the city’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) and territorial climate action plan, aimed at reducing the territory’s emissions.
Ultimately the city hopes to achieve a complete panel of alternative mobility solutions: Car sharing, carpooling, rental bicycle, intelligent information, etc.
Nantes public transport measures are reaping tangible benefits. Between 1999 and 2009 the number of people living within 300 metres of urban public transport increased from 80% to 95% and in the last ten years car journeys under five kilometres have fallen by 5%. Cycle paths have also increased, going from 225 km in 2001 to 376 km in 2009 (a 66% improvement).
Nantes is leading the way nationally - in 2008 public transport amounts for 50% of transport in the metropolitan area, while the average in the 14 French metropolitan areas with populations of more than 300,000 was 11%.
Dedicating public spaces to public transport rather than vehicles has a calming effect on living areas (pacification) and leads to greater public transport efficiency. The proper development of good quality public spaces also increases soft modes of transport. Good quality spaces increase the rate of walking above 30%, whilst poor quality spaces reduce walking rates to between 10-15%.