major additional costs are looming, the mayor says he is “worried”
This project is the keystone of Jean-Luc Moudenc’s mobility policy since his return to the Capitol in 2014. The mayor of Toulouse and president of the Metropolis, who also built the urban cable car to the south of the city, has promised residents and the economic fabric a third metro line, as large as the two existing ones combined in order to serve many strategic employment areas.
However, this ambitious project of 21 stations, which is expected to come into service in 2028, at a cost. No less than 2.7 billion euros. Still, this estimate was yesterday’s. Already today, the vice-president of Toulouse Métropole in charge of Finance, Sacha Briand, mentions an additional cost of 300 million euros.
To understand, we must turn to the side of the soaring prices of materials, as well as that of energy. But this estimate of the elected official is only provisional and he gives an appointment at the beginning of 2023 for a presentation of a new financing plan for this future third metro line in Toulouse.
“Currently, we are in the consultation phase for the large civil engineering lots. This represents approximately 50% of the price of this metro line. We have received the first offers, but the negotiations are not over. We expect to have the offers finals at the end of November. We are proceeding with a review of the overall budget after this deadline”, clarifies Jean-François Lacroux, Managing Director of Tisséo Ingénierie.
Jean-Luc Moudenc calls on the State to the rescue
The context is far from being favorable to the project. Mobility payments, this contribution from companies to the budget of the Toulouse municipal transport union, is down as everywhere in France. Recently, Jean-Michel Lattes, president of Tisséo, announced that Tisséo’s energy bill would increase from 6 million euros in 2022 to around 30 million in 2023.
Otherwise, this major project has already been postponed in its commissioning from 2026 to 2028 in response to the health crisis which has weakened the finances of local authorities. The regional council of Occitanie, the departmental council of Haute-Garonne, Sicoval, Muretain and the State, other main co-financiers of this third metro line, will they be in favor of agreeing to another report, for example ? Not sure.
Before a small committee of journalists, Monday, October 17, Jean-Luc Moudenc said to himself “worried“Faced with the context surrounding the project and its first consequences. While the State is already going to contribute 200 million euros to this third metro line, the mayor of Toulouse co-signed a column in the Journal du Dimanche on 16 October to ask the government for an investment package of nine billion euros in national public transport.
“In the 80s and 90s, the State was much more helpful with investments in public transport. At present, this remains an effective means of promoting ecological transition. As such, we ask the State to become active again on the subject”, justifies Jean-Luc Moudenc.
A debate favorable to the RER?
Will he be heard? Be that as it may, the city councilor closes the door is subject to a delay in the start of the major works, expected for the end of 2022 or even the beginning of 2023. His position is identical as regards a possible phasing of the project. “It would cost much more than the current figures“, he explains in the face of municipal and metropolitan opposition which has long called for this solution.
The vice-president of the departmental council and elected opposition to the Metropolis, Isabelle Hardy, therefore asks ” a transparent and precise analysis of the financial sustainability of the 3rd metro line and solutions to respond to the emergency “.
These adventures could thus restore thickness to the need for a Toulouse RER, in phases, as claimed by the association Rallumons L’étoile. The elected officials of the Toulouse metropolitan council were unanimously adopted a wish to this effect this Thursday, October 20. Other intermunicipalities could follow. But there too, a debate exists on its real cost and its feasible technique. In recent hours, the departmental council of Haute-Garonne has written to several protagonists of the file in the hope of shedding light on this file.