It is worth noting that the Sustainable Mobility Infrastructures for Low Emissions and Qualitative Service- SMILES project has gone on to be officially launched with the intent to support enhancements in the transport infrastructure of Nantes, France.
SMILES happens to be financed by the EU under the aegis of the Public Sector Loan Facility, which happens to be a part of the Just Transition Mechanism- JTM with a grant worth 30 million euros. This investment goes on to complement a loan of 200 million euros awarded by EIB, bringing the overall budget when it comes to the projects to 400 million euros.
The director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, Ms. Emma Toledano, stated that the financial support coming from the European Commission enables a contribution towards greener and more efficient public transport across the metropolitan area of Nantes. This will ensure a fair climate shift for one and all while, at the same time, improving the quality of life for the people.
In addition to her statement, the Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency – CINEA, Ms. Paloma Aba Garrote, said that she was very pleased to witness the second project under the aegis of the Public Sector Loan Facility, beginning with all its might. SMILES happens to be an incredible example when it comes to making a green transition to an economy that’s climate-neutral in reality.
Due to this project, the Public Sector Loan Facility goes on to flash its support for more sustainable transport modes, and she looks forward to hearing about the growth made over a time period as well as the benefits that it will go on to bring to the lives of the people from Nantes Métropole.
The SMILES project happens to support the enhancements in the transport infrastructure of Nantes Métropole by way of:
- Making an upgrade as well as renovating three tram lines.
- Renewing the fleet of trams through the purchase and entry into service of 46 new tram vehicles.
- Constructing the technical as well as operational center and multimodal relay along with an exchange hub that comes with a park and ride facility.
- Creating 38-km cycling paths.
Once all this happens to be finalized, it will go on to enhance the performance as well as quality of the tram network, go on to develop their inter-modality, improve the quality and diversity of public transport, and encourage soft mobility along with behavioral changes. The novel infrastructure will go on to enhance the efficiency of the transport network and hence bring benefits comprising time savings, less road congestion, and enhanced accessibility in Nantes.
The mayor of Nantes, Ms. Johanna Rolland, and also the president of the Nantes Métropole went on to affirm that such investments are going to contribute in terms of strengthening the offer, quality, and diversity of public transport provision across the Nantes area, contributing to making public transport much more accessible, affordable, and also pretty less polluting for the benefit of citizens.
The project is going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as CO2 is all set to reduce by 21000 tonnes per year, thereby creating 100 new jobs, increase the cycling percentage from 3% to 12% by year-end, and at the same time contribute towards a decrease in the share of trips made by cars from 44% in 2015 to 28% in 2030.
The project will go on to contribute towards supporting behavioral changes towards much more sustainable mobility across the Nantes region and hence elevate accessibility to public transport while at the same time also developing soft mobility. It is most likely to encourage the citizens of the Métropole region as well as its surroundings to make alterations in the way they travel within the city by way of making use of much cleaner means of transportation and, at the same time, also make public transportation accessible to all.
