What future for Place du Trocadéro? After self-service scooters or pricing for SUV parking, the municipality has been questioning Parisians on this subject since December 20 in a new consultation entitled “The Trocadéro of tomorrow” with Make.org.
Redeveloped for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the legendary square in the 16th arrondissement of the capital is still, at present, in an “exceptional” configuration which leaves less space for the car and, above all, gives an idea intentions of Paris City Hall. For 20 MinutesPatrick Bloche, Anne Hidalgo’s first deputy, returns to this project.
Parisians have until January 31 to submit their proposals and opinions on “The Trocadéro of tomorrow”. What about the consultation a few days before the end?
We can say that it works well. A few days before the closing, we already have more than 15,000 participants, more than 700 proposals and around 195,000 votes. In view of these figures, and like the previous ones, this consultation shows the interest of Parisians in the life of their city and the usefulness of this type of approach.
What is the objective of Paris City Hall through this project at the Trocadéro?
As is the case with all the transformations we carry out in the city, we are driven by the general interest, because if the Trocadéro sector is greener, more pedestrian and more peaceful, everyone will benefit. And not just local residents because it is a remarkable heritage site which is of direct interest to those who live nearby but also to all Parisians.
On a personal level, although I live in the east of Paris, I regularly go to the Trocadéro side for different reasons and this is the case for most Parisians, as well as the Place de la Bastille or the Place of the Nation that we have already transformed.
Also we want to connect part of the square to the Trocadéro, to have a horseshoe-shaped crossroads rather than a roundabout or a roundabout as was done at the Place de la Bastille or what we wish to do at Place de la Concorde.
Have local residents, more directly concerned, been consulted?
This will obviously be done, particularly with the Neighborhood Council. No date has yet been set but it goes without saying that we will have meetings with those who live on a daily basis near Place du Trocadéro. But we are sure we can convince them because it is also a public health issue.
Since the first redevelopment carried out, this intersection in the shape of a horseshoe rather than a roundabout as was the case before, we have noted a 15% drop in automobile traffic without having more congestion or saturation of the sector . These are all gains in terms of living environment with less noise pollution and better air quality.
You ask the administrators for their opinion, while presenting a project that is already advanced. Some comments even argue that consultation only serves to legitimize a decision already taken…
Obviously we have an idea of where we want to go. That is to say the line which has been that of the municipality and Anne Hidalgo for several years. The aim of such a consultation is to read the opinions, even contradictory ones, between those who want things to change and those who want nothing to change. It’s democracy.
Such a consultation, especially with participation which ensures a representative panel, is very enlightening and fuels the project. This may lead us to enrich and correct the project. This also makes it possible to take contrary opinions into account and thus prevent opposition from crystallizing.
Among these oppositions we find in particular Jérémy Redler, mayor of the 16th arrondissement who is also opposed to the pedestrianization of the Iéna bridge, or even Rachida Dati…
That the town hall of the 16th arrondissement speaks out and expresses itself in opposition to this project is obviously its strictest right and we hear it because town halls are required to give their opinion on most projects but the The final decision rests with the central town hall.
Car use is greater in the West than in the East of Paris and I think that there is a common aspiration throughout the city to live in a less polluted, more pedestrian, more peaceful and more green. It would be a shame if the city transformed and moved only on one side of the city and not the other. We were able to explain it to Mr. Redler with whom we had very fluid and cordial exchanges.
It is very different on the other side of the Seine, in the 7th arrondissement, where the opposition is more direct. We don’t agree, that’s how it is. We must convince residents of the improvement of their living environment. You know, Rachida Dati said that if she arrived at Paris City Hall, she would want to directly de-pedestrianize part of the tracks on the bank. Something that even the most serious of our opponents would no longer even consider as it is an achievement for Parisians.