Page 23 - Monaco Economy 130-2
P. 23

Les Salines Car Park: 1,820 spaces on the edge of town

                                                                                                        By Milena Radoman
          It's been like waiting for the messiah: this huge car park should make it possible to 'confine' some
          of the vehicles of commuters and tourists and reduce intramural traffic.


          Code named EVOS (aka Western Upper Town   Principality's leading activity and employment   the redevelopment of the Saint-Roman
          Entrance), this mixed operation, which includes   hub, the Fontvieille district, on foot. The Jardin   interchange, the government believed it
          the Galerie des Salines, as well as offices,   Exotique/Fontvieille cable car project seems   would eventually be able to create a park-
          businesses and a postal sorting centre for   to have fallen into oblivion but the pedestrian   and-ride facility with around 500 spaces. The
          parcels and coordinated last mile delivery   route has been the subject of budgetary entries   technical studies (survey, soil reconnaissance)
          management, hosts the Salines Car Park   and works are underway; thus "upon delivery   did not confirm the feasibility. “We had hoped
          and its 1,820 parking spaces, to be delivered   of the Entrée de Ville Les Salines parking   to accommodate a parking lot in the heart of
          before the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix. It is a vast   lot, a pedestrian link will connect it to the   this interchange but, geologically and in view
          public car park on 15 levels, connected to the   Fontvieille district - via the Ilot Pasteur – and   of the water passing through it, this will not
          Albert II Tunnel. “This is very large capacity,   via the Galerie des Salines, then the Passerelle   be possible,” declared Minister of State, Pierre
          the largest we have in the Principality,” points   Wurtemberg, extended by the Fontvieille   Dartout. Another park-and-ride facility had also
          out Céline Caron, Minister of Public Works, the   Footbridge (the latter will be delivered at the   been studied in pre-feasibility on land owned
          Environment and Urban Planning.     beginning of 2025),” explains the government.   by the SBM and the state.
          The objective is clear: this new 'border' car   The Galerie des Salines (at the bend after
          park is intended to capture vehicles entering   the entrance to the cemetery) will connect
          the city (tourists, visitors, working people)   avenue Pasteur and the new Princess Grace   Les Salines Car Park in figures:
          and transport passengers to the city centre   Hospital, via a lift located in a second branch   • 1,800 car parking spaces, including
          via public transport and planned vertical   of the tunnel, a 110-metre underground gallery   100 for electric vehicles
          links (via the Galerie Salines and Wurtemberg   and 190-metre long aerial footbridge thanks,   •  90  motorcycle  parking  spaces,
          Footbridge in particular), with the aim of   in particular, to a series of lifts installed at   including 15 equipped for electric
          limiting the presence of private vehicles within   both ends of the project; and the estimated   charging
          Monaco. “The goal is for the employee to   travel time between the Jardin Exotique and   • urban bus storage (CAM): 12 night
          park in this car park and have quick access   Fontvieille, currently approximately 310 metres   spaces (electric charging)
          to Monte-Carlo or La Condamine. We are   apart as the crow flies: 12 to 15 minutes!  • tourist coach parking during the day
          aware of the arduousness of journeys to                                    • two bicycle stations totalling 63
          Monaco. The new express bus lines will not   The first border car park       attachments
          stop at all stops. There will be two/three stops   Other border car parks are planned. With
          maximum,” explains the minister. Concretely,
          these two lines will have a timetable of 7:00
          am to 7:00 pm Monday to Friday, running every
          10 minutes. Furthermore, the current Line 2
          (Jardin Exotique/Monaco Ville) will have an
          extended time slot with departures from 6 am
          instead of 7 am, every 15 minutes, then from
          7 am every 10 minutes – and in total, one bus
          every five minutes during rush hour.
          In terms of cost, the government promises
          an attractive subscription rate. “We are
          working on pricing that is an incentive to
          win over employees whose vehicles are
          currently clogging up city centre parking
          lots,” promises Céline Caron. There is talk   Ligne Express n°1 Salines - Place d’Armes
          of a discount of almost 50% compared to a
          traditional subscription. For comparison, a
          monthly subscription to the ZAC Saint-Antoine
          park-and-ride costs €51.50 per month, after
          a €42 discount. Tourists should also benefit
          from a pack of 10 bus tickets to allow each
          passenger in a vehicle to make a return trip
          from this park-and-ride.
          As well as by bus, users will be able to reach the   Ligne Express n°2 Salines - Pont Sainte Dévote - Monte-Carlo

                                                                                                                        23
   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28