All of this happened on Tuesday, July 9th. Michaël Delafosse, our dear president of the Metropolis, during a council meeting, stepped out to make a call to the Minister of Transport, Patrice Vergriete. The news comes in: Montpellier lands the "Metropolitan Regional Express Service" (SERM) label. Cheers! Well, not for everyone...
A new label is a real boost for the transport network. The idea? Improve the connections between Montpellier and its suburbs, so that everyone can get around more easily. (No more excuses for being late to work!) The Metropolis has even teamed up with eight neighboring intercommunities to cook up this plan. 🌸🚆 Cold shower for non-metropolitans But there's a catch. And not a small one! Starting on September 1st, prices will soar for those who do not live in the Metropolis. +27% for a 1.5-hour ticket and +50% for a 10-ticket booklet. That really hurts the wallet (we advise you to start saving now...). Of course, this announcement has not gone unnoticed. Alenka Doulain, president of the Mupes group, denounces to our colleagues at Midilibre.Midi Libre reports that there is a real "territorial divide". According to them, free transportation only benefits the residents in the heart of the Metropolis, leaving others out in the cold. In response to these criticisms, Julie Frêche, Vice President of Transportation, argues back. She mentions a 38% increase in energy costs (possibly 50% since 2022) and assures that Montpellier remains the cheapest metropolis in France for non-residents and tourists. So, is the increase justified or a hard blow to the wallet? The debate is on! Source: Midi Libre.Voir cette publication sur Instagram