Page 47 - Monaco Economy 130-2

La Brasca: deterrent parking and express link in the works

by Milena Radoman
Nothing has been decided yet but, one day, it may be possible to park your vehicle in the La Brasca
car park at the A500 exit and take public transport to Fontvieille...

The hypothesis of a La Brasca-Monaco link Waiting for a green light from France fitting square pegs into round holes. There is
is one of the projects has been talked about France is said to have “shown interest” in the no question that the ACM's Grand Prix needs
for years; even before 2017, when Monaco works, without yet giving the green light to will not be met,” assured Céline Caron-Dagioni,
acquired the 20-hectare piece of land, a Monaco authorities. Ultimately, this La Brasca who has consulted on this subject with the
strategic logistics site for numerous events, station could even be connected to Nice, via President of the ACM, Michel Boeri.
such as the Grand Prix and the Yacht Show. an underground tunnel: “Some officials from
The cost of the operation: €20 million to acquire the Alpes-Maritimes are calling for this. Others “Concrete cathedral”
the surface and subsoil of this land. do not have quite the same position. I say If the park-and-ride and express link project
'why not?' but it is in the longer-term future,” is supported by the majority of the National
2,400 passengers per hour and two or three suggested the Minister of State, in front of Council, the project nevertheless raises many
minutes' travel time… representatives of the National Council. “We questions. “I am uncomfortable with the idea
Located in the town of Eze at the exit of the are cautious and ambitious. Since last year, of creating a concrete cathedral to store cars
A500 tunnel towards Monaco, this land could we have launched a Four-Season study*, an which will travel and pollute 90% of the way
one day house a park-and-ride facility and an essential prerequisite for any procedure in this to Monaco and which will park there with a
express link to the Principality - but by what area and it is possible that we will consider carbon impact which will not be, I think, very
deadline? “These are priority objectives for certain feasibility studies fairly quickly,” favourable - even though there is already
the Principality. Naturally, to achieve them announced the Minister of State, Pierre Dartout, an infrastructure, the train. This structure
requires agreements with France, since these soon due to meet the new French Minister for exists, it is ecologically responsible and it is
facilities are located, almost entirely, in that Transport, Patrice Vergriete, who has replaced already favoured by many workers,” expressed
country,” indicates the Monaco government Clément Beaune. National Councillor, Roland Mouflard, during
in its Mobility Plan. “Access to the area would the examination of the initial 2024 budget.
be via a crossroads to be created on the Alternative solution for the Grand Prix
Moyenne Corniche. The programme of the The objective of this project is, above all, * Four-Season environmental studies began in September
operation would include, in addition to at least to streamline access from the west of the 2023 and will require 13 months' work.
3,000 light vehicle parking spaces, places Principality. Nearly 15,000 vehicles pass
dedicated to the storage of heavy goods through this area every day. “Traffic jams
vehicles, tourist coaches, as well as areas often form just before the Principality, at the La Brasca-Monaco connection in
reserved for events' logistics. Finally, the last motorway exit. Some people can't take the figures
level would host the station of an express train. These are often commuters coming from • Length of the link: approximately two
kilometres
link to the Principality, the arrival of which the valleys, living outside the public transport • Elevation gain: 200 metres
would be at Fontvieille,” he specifies, without network. We can resolve this with a car park • Slope < 15% with slope variation
revealing the mode of transport that could and underground connection to reach the • Journey time: between three and
be chosen (underground funicular, metro or Principality,” explains Céline Caron-Dagioni. four minutes
other). The only characteristics known are In the event that the project comes to fruition, • Type of material: not defined at this
that it will be able to take 2,400 passengers a replacement solution will have to be found stage
per hour from La Brasca to Fontvieille in two for the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM) • Target capacity: 2,400 passengers
or three minutes… which stores the Grand-Prix and Monte-Carlo per hour
Rally facilities at La Brasca: “We are used to

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