The president of the region and of Ile-de-France Mobilités, the organizing authority for public transport in the region, recalled this Friday July 22 what the financial needs of the Ile-de-France infrastructure were and once again called for the State aid.
“The account is not there”, launches Valérie Pécresse about the investment of the State in favor of public transport in the Ile-de-France. The president of the Ile-de-France region is indeed claiming 4 billion euros from the government, while the latter is only committed, according to her, up to 200 million euros per year.
One euro invested in return for each euro of the State
“The financial needs for transport infrastructure in Ile-de-France amount to 10 billion euros”, estimates the elected representative from the Ile-de-France, explaining that she is “ready to put in a euro when the State puts one in”. And to affirm: “I hope 4 billion euros from the State”.
The financial needs for transport infrastructure in Île-de-France amount to €10 billion. I am ready to put 1 € when the State puts 1.
I’m hoping for 4 billion € from the State, which today has only committed up to 200 M€/year. The account is not there.
— Valerie Pécresse (@vpecresse) July 22, 2022
Because the financial needs to continue the investments necessary for the proper functioning of public transport in the Ile-de-France are enormous, according to her. “We can’t slow down”, underlines Valérie Pécresse, who assures us that the next 5 years will be “decisive”.
She denounces the methods of SNCF Réseau, in charge of the construction of infrastructures, which “does permanent blackmail by demanding more money”. For the president of Ile-de-France Mobilités, which notably manages the RER lines operated by the SNCF, the “network must be taken over by its shareholder: the State”.
A situation that also deplores the elected representatives of the Ile-de-France opposition who themselves attack not the state but directly Valérie Pécresse. In a letter addressed to the latter, 7 Nupes deputies point out “a patent lack of public investment” regarding public transport.
“It is unacceptable, in view of the climate emergency that threatens us, not to be able to count on reliable and quality daily public transport. In times of crisis, public services must be able to act as shock absorbers and brakes against the rise of inequalities,” they write.
In chorus, they report on the “erratic management of the RER B”, while traffic problems have followed one another in recent days on this line but more generally, everywhere in Ile-de-France public transport, due to the heat. and various technical issues.
Rather than criticizing those who move projects forward, support @vpecresse to obtain State credits for the CPER, because with €200 million per year, the account is not there. Many projects are at stake. Thank you in advance!
— Stephane Beaudet (@beaudetstephane) July 21, 2022
“Rather than criticizing those who move the projects forward, support Valérie Pécresse to obtain state credits for the CPER [contrat de plan Etat-Région, ndlr]because with 200 million euros per year, the account is not there”, defends the vice-president of the region in charge of transport Stéphane Beaudet, for whom “many projects are at stake”.
