Montpellier will make its public transportation free by the end of 2023
This page is translated from the original post "Montpellier rendra ses transports en commun gratuits fin 2023" in French.
- 02/02/2023 17:00
It’s official, the Montpellier metropolitan area has approved free public transportation for the remainder of 2023, along with a new tram line.
Free public transportation has been a recurring topic. More and more municipalities have reached a stage that many consider impossible. The largest include Aubagne since 2009, followed by Niort (2017), and northern cities such as Dunkirk (2018), Calais (2020), or Douai in 2022. And it’s not even a political issue, as left, center, and right share this initiative. Yet, it remains a source of tension, as in Île-de-France with the Pass Navigo, since the fare paid by users is only a small part of the funding. A fact that Montpellier Métropole has recognized for a long time, with its realization this year.
When does free transportation start in Montpellier?
It’s not entirely new for residents of Montpellier, as initiatives have emerged over the past two years. In September 2020, the metropolitan area offered free passes on weekends, then introduced free travel for those under 18 in 2021, and for people over 65. The measure, however, is not immediate.
During the Metropolitan Council on February 2, 2023, Montpellier voted for total free public transportation. The decision is motivated by the fact that 58% of CO2 emissions come from transportation, primarily from cars. Elected officials want to “make a decarbonized mobility choice, thus ensuring improving air quality, and thereby protecting the health of the metropolitan residents.” Free public transport in Montpellier and its metro area will only occur on December 21, 2023. However, it applies to buses and trams of the TaM network.
From €200 to €500 in savings per year
The metropolitan area even estimates annual savings that its residents could achieve, based on a few situations:
- 18-year-old high school student: €196;
- Retiree: €321;
- Employee without a Company Commuting Plan (PDE): €481.50;
- Employee with a PDE: €217 per year;
- Family of 4 (2 adults with PDE, children over 18): €826.
A new Tram Line 5
Regarding this, the metropolitan area also approved Tram Line 5 with its 20 stations. Starting from the north in Clapiers and connecting Lavérune in the southwest, it will be operational in 2025. To promote carpooling, co-financing aid via the Klaxit app was also approved, amounting to €606,000.
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