Casablanca Transports en Site Aménagé SA (Casa Transports SA), the local development company responsible for mobility in Casablanca, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed today a EUR 60m finance contract for the construction of Casablanca’s second tram line, in the presence of EIB Vice-President Roman Escolano and Casa Transports SA’s CEO Youssef Draiss.
The project consists of the construction of a second tram line in Casablanca stretching 15 km between Anoual and Ain Sebaa and a 2 km extension of the first line to Lissasfa. With a total length of around 17 km and 22 stops, it will serve nine districts with a population of 1 058 220.
The project forms part of the Casablanca Urban Development Plan signed before His Majesty King Mohammed VI in September 2014, in particular the Plan’s “Mobility” component, which aims to improve urban mobility and the sustainability of the city's economic development via, for example, the introduction of a public transport system covering 40% of motorised journeys by 2030.
The project will also generate substantial economic impacts, especially for young people and women, who are the main users of public transport. It will provide them with better access to jobs and amenities, with women in particular benefiting from a high-quality service providing a high level of security. It is therefore expected to enhance gender equality, by enabling women to travel comfortably and safely.
The project is also expected to increase the usage of Casablanca’s tramway by 30% and reduce emissions by 16 700 tonnes of CO2e a year. As a result, it will help to make Casablanca a low-carbon city with commitments in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The design of the tramway, integrated in the cityscape, will also improve the urban environment, limiting pollution and offering a higher level of service to users.
Work on the second line of Casablanca’s tram network and the extension of the first line began in January 2016 and the project is scheduled to enter into service at the end of 2018.
