The car

2 issues make it necessary to rethink traffic:

• Inflation in the number of cars: the threat of thrombosis. The attractiveness of the metropolis is generating strong demographic growth, which is injecting more and more cars into traffic. The number of light vehicles entering Montpellier every day was 77,700 in 2017. It is estimated at 89,370 for 2025 and 94,000 for 2030, while the population is set to increase by 20%. This means that 6,000 more vehicles are registered in the metropolis every year.
• An alarming air pollution : worsening respiratory difficulties. In the Montpellier urban area, road traffic is the source of 82% of nitrogen dioxide emissions and 30% of fine particulate emissions.

Passing through the city center to cross Montpellier completely, or to go from one district to another, is the main cause of traffic jams. It is therefore imperative to reduce this transit traffic.

2 routes are planned via boulevards and road bypasses:

• A bypass via avenues that irrigate the west, north and east of the city and, to the south, via the A709;
• A bypass via 3 road systems that will each reduce through-traffic in Montpellier:
  • The LIEN (Liaison Intercantonale d'Évitement Nord), built by the Hérault department, between Saint-Gély-du-Fesc and the A750. The final section, from Saint-Gély-du-Fesc to Bel Air and the A750, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in 2026.
  • The COM (Contournement Ouest de Montpellier) between the A750-N109 and the A709. The project had been bogged down since the 1990s. Thanks to negotiations with the French government, the Metropole and the City of Montpellier were able to agree to finance the project without public money. State authorities estimate that the COM will cut journey times by a third on certain sections, and save 10,000 hours of transport time per day overall. Commissioning is scheduled for 2029/2030.
  • The DEM (Déviation Est de Montpellier). The Hérault department is studying its construction, scheduled for 2029/2030.

Easy access to the city center with convenient parking is possible:

• with Parkings Relais located on tramway lines (2 additional P+Trams are under construction at Girac and Gennevaux for line 5);
• with other parking lots close to or in the city center.

The Comédie tunnel reinforces its function as access to the 1,200 spaces in the Comédie and Triangle parking lots. While transit traffic is excluded, the route to these parking lots is reinforced.

With the exception of a few major roads, since August 1, 2021, the maximum speed limit in Montpellier's "agglomerate zone" has been 30 km/h. There are many arguments in favor of this measure, particularly those relating to safety and, more generally, to peace and quiet on the streets, thanks to a balanced sharing of space. This decision is the responsibility of the local authorities. All are converging to implement it.

More safety for all

• The braking distance is 13 meters at 30 km/h, compared with twice that at 50 km/h.
• The driver's field of vision is wider. This enables him to anticipate and avoid accidents.
• For a pedestrian, the risk of death is 9 times lower at 30 km/h than at 50 km/h.
• Injuries are lighter.

The other benefits of 30 km/h

5 advances to consider when lifting the foot off the gas:

• Lower noise volume, so it's quieter.
• A more pleasant city to live in, more welcoming for children and the elderly.
• Smoothed road traffic, ensuring better cohabitation of pedestrians and cyclists with motorists.
• More pleasant city centers and neighborhoods.
• Local shops strengthened.

7 communes in the metropolis have already made this choice

The other communes have agreed to a gradual application.

In the metropolis, in addition to Montpellier, 7 communes are applying the 30 km/h rule:

• Castelnau-le-Lez - 80% of lanes at 30 km/h. In the center, Hôtel de Ville - Place de l'Europe crossings are at 20 km/h.
• Grabels - 30 km/h on main roads.
• Jacou - 30 km/h with the exception of avenue de Vendargues.
• Juvignac - 30 km/h in certain lanes, including avenue du Perret and avenue des Hauts de Fontcaude.
• Pérols - 20 km/h in the old village, with priority given to pedestrians on the roadway. 30 km/h elsewhere.
• Saint-Drézéry - 30 km/h in all streets.
• Vendargues - 30 km/h traffic near school groups, later extended to the entire commune in built-up areas.

At the end of the mandate, in 2026, all communes in the metropolis will have generalized 30 km/h.