Toulouse. ZFE: could the most polluting cars access the metro parking lots?
By Anthony Assemat
Published on
Since 1uh March 2022, all vehicles are no longer welcome for flyer In Toulouse.
It was on this date that the implementation of the Low Emission Zone (ZFE)within a radius of 72 km2 which includes the whole of the commune of Toulouse but also a small part of Turnsheet and Colomiers. This area is indicated by panels of red colors on a white background, which are now part of the landscape.
Vehicles prohibited since 1uh March 2022
Initially, traffic is prohibited vans, vans and heavy goods vehicles corresponding to a Crit’air 5 sticker. This represents approximately 1% of the Toulouse rolling stock. From 1uh January 2023, these same vehicles with a Crit’air 4 sticker will also be excluded from the ZFE, as well as motorized vehicles certified Crit’air 4 and 5.
Six park and ride facilities within the perimeter of the ZFE
If the rules of the game seem, more or less, quite clear, there are still questions. In particular for places very busy with motorists who abandon their vehicle at the gates of Toulouse to take public transport: park-and-ride.
There are currently eight on the Tisséo network, close to metro stations: five on line A (Balma Gramont1522 seats; Argoulets1037; Jolimont285; Arenas518 but also Basso Cambocurrently neutralized due to expansion works until September 2022) and three on line B (Bordeaux1358 seats; The cow427; Ramonville1029).
Among these P+R, as we say in the jargon of the Public Transport Organizing Authority, six are located within the perimeter of the ZFE: Basso Cambo, Jolimont, Argoulets and Arènes (line A), Borderouge and La Vache (line B).
The Jolimont car park will disappear
For the two park and rides in the heart of the city, Arènes and Jolimont, the case is clear: the most polluting cars could no longer park there, again according to their Crit’air sticker.
On the Jolimont site, Tisséo has gone further by acting the sale of the car park to the developer Nexity, on December 15, 2021 in union council. A sale which could amount to seven million euros and which should lead to the “My Jolimont” project. According to the project presented, which is one of the projects selected by “Draw me Toulouse”, several buildings including housing, the cooperative supermarket of the Chouette Coop and a landscaped park under the viaduct appear.
As for La Vache, to the north, Tisséo has a project in the pipeline to increase the current capacity of the car park from 430 to 500 spaces. “The current 430-seat P+R will be closed in 2023 for the start of work on the third metro line”, specifies however Tisséo.
A special “access corridor” will be created
What about the other three park and rides located on fine lines A and B? Do not panic. Tisséo announces that an “approach corridor, with a special route” is under study. Clear, approaching Basso Cambo, Argoulets and Borderouge, vehicles prohibited in the power could exceptionally circulate, but only to go to these two park and ride facilities. “It has been agreed with Toulouse Métropole that access to these three park and ride facilities benefits from an access corridor thus allowing all motorists to be able to fall back on one of these car parks, without any constraint on the type of vehicle”, we continue on the side of the Organizing Authority for public transport in the greater Toulouse conurbation.
It is too early to know the terms of this operation, which should relieve many motorists… and not completely depopulate these high-capacity car parks.
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