Le Figaro Lyon
This time it is the State which will inaugurate a new carpooling lane on the highway.
Three years after the arrival of the white diamonds signaling a lane reserved for vehicles carrying at least two occupants on the M6/M7 metropolitan boulevard by the environmentalist executive in Greater Lyon, the Rhône prefecture announces the extension of this system over 8 kilometers in the south-north direction on the A7.
Arrival in Lyon will also be at reduced speed from the end of the month, since the limit will be lowered to 50 km/h on this portion when the system is activated, and to 90 km/h permanently.
“As part of the process of improving mobility between Lyon and Saint-Étienne and in order to improve the flow of traffic on the A7 motorway south of the Lyon metropolitan area, the Interdepartmental Directorate of Center-East Roads (DIR Centre-Est) is putting into service (…) a lane reserved for carpooling, public transport and very low-emission vehicles
,” indicates the prefecture.
It will be effective from March 20, subject to the completion of the final tests.
A communication campaign via variable message signs installed on the road network will be implemented to inform users.
“Users authorized to use this reserved lane are light vehicles carrying at least two occupants, very low emission vehicles (equipped with a Crit'air 0 sticker), public transport vehicles as well as taxis”
.
The reserved lane will be activated from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on weekdays.
Activation periods will be indicated by illuminated signs with a white diamond.
The speed will then be limited to 50 km/h.
A permanent lowering will also be required, to 90 km/h, instead of 110 km/h.
Eight gantries were installed to position the light panels.
The total amount amounts to 3 million euros, entirely financed by the State.
Educational radar and police checks
“In the event of an accident or event requiring the neutralization of at least one traffic lane out of the three, the reserved lane will be deactivated and the light panel with a white diamond will be turned off
. ”
Management of the activation and deactivation of the reserved lane will be ensured by the operators of the Genas PC.
An educational radar will be installed to make users aware of the use of the reserved lane.
The police may also carry out enforcement operations.
Read alsoCarpooling in Lyon: future thermal radars do not convince motorists
With an average of 102,000 vehicles per day combined, the A7 motorway experiences congestion problems during rush hours, mainly in the morning in the direction from South to North.
The prefecture ensures that this reserved lane makes it possible to reduce the number of vehicles by encouraging carpooling.
And therefore pollution, nuisances as well as traffic jams.
As for travel time, it would allow
“a time saving of a few minutes for users authorized to travel on the reserved lane”
and
“a loss of time of a few minutes for users who are not authorized to travel on the reserved lane”
.
“The system therefore aims to be virtuous by encouraging users to carpool
,” state services welcome.
It will be evaluated on around fifteen indicators in the coming months, to measure the impact and effectiveness of this route, on CO2 emissions and even accidents.