3rd metro line in Toulouse: what names for the 21 stations?
The names of the stations of the future 3rd Colomiers-Labège metro line, not final to date, will be the subject of work carried out by Tisséo and consultation with the inhabitants.
Colomiers station, Airbus Colomiers Ramassiers, Montaudran Piste des Géants, Montaudran Innovation Campus Airbus Défense and Space, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse… will these few station names of the future 3rd line of the Toulouse metro still be there when it is scheduled to be launched at the end of 2028? Today, the names of the 21 stations that appear on the maps of the major Tisséo project are not definitive. These are “technical” names placed on a plan like an architect’s notes on the drawing of a house.
During their meeting on Wednesday February 16, the elected representatives of Tisséo Collectivités kicked off a reflection on the final names of the stations, a few months before the start of the construction of the 3rd line scheduled for the fall. “A metro station name is a lasting landmark in the city that must be considered to last over time. It must be representative of a neighborhood identity and speak for an inhabitant of the Toulouse conurbation,” summarizes a deliberation which provides for the hiring of temporary workers to work on this issue.
A city archivist is responsible for working on the identity and history of each district. Then Tisséo then plans a consultation of local elected officials – mayors of communes and mayors of Toulouse neighborhoods – and residents.
Toulouse stadium
Not everything will be possible. “We must remain on the principle of identification,” says Jean-Lichel Lattes, president of Tisséo Collectivités. But a certain leeway exists here and there, especially in recent neighborhoods, like some of those mentioned above, or when the provisional name says little, like the Canal Technology Park, on the extension of line B to Ramonville.
Without waiting, some requests arose. The Limayrac neighborhood committee considers “Limayrac” more appropriate than “Côté pavée-Cité de l’espace”, not specific enough for Côte pavée, too far for the Cité de l’espace. The Jean-Maga station, a strategic car connected to the tramway for the airport and for the MEETT, must have priority over “Blagnac” to be identified, judges the mayor of the town, Joseph Carles. Especially since it will be the only station in town. The mention “Stade Toulousain” affixed to “Sept-Deniers” has also been the subject of discussions and already seems to be essential.