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.
(96) Figure 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 centers(97).
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
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
(99) Figure 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 rivers(101).
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 TGVs(102).
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.
(103) Figure 10: Atelier Castro/Denissof/ Casi proposition of transport lines for the Greater Paris
96 www.impots-utiles.com
97 Roger Stirk Harbour, Le Grand Pari(s), Consultation internationale sur l’avenir de la métropole Parisienne, PP.46
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
102 Ibid P.P 225
103 Ibid P.P 224
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