TRANSPORT URBAIN METTIS METZ

Financing of an exclusive lane public transport project, including the introduction of two exclusive lane bus routes and the acquisition of low-pollution buses.

This includes the construction of 8 km of bus lanes on four arterial routes with priority at junctions, the reorganisation of the current bus network and other support measures to promote intermodality.

The METTIS project brings together a number of measures provided for under the city's Urban Transport Plan and is also intended to improve the pricing system and passenger information. It constitutes an operational component of the sustainable development policy introduced by Metz Métropole in 2008, in particular through the implementation of an Agenda 21 action plan and a Climate Plan.

As an exclusive lane public transport project, it comes under Annex II to Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended, so the need to carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is determined by criteria established by the Member State. Under French law, the project is subject to an impact assessment as part of the Declaration of Public Interest (DUP) procedure. The project (overall, including support measures) obtained a favourable opinion from the various government departments, including the environmental authority, and was declared as being in the public interest in May 2010.

The other environmental aspects will be examined in greater detail during the final project appraisal.

As a public inter-municipal cooperation entity, Metz Métropole must comply with public procurement procedures under French law (the Public Procurement Code and the Order of 6 June 2005) resulting from the transposition of Community directives (in particular Directive 2004/18/EC).

Compliance with the regulations will be examined in greater detail during the project appraisal.