How Do You Travel Around? A Major Government Survey on Mobility

Mobility is central to Government action. The Principality has more than 36,000 residents and more than 50,000 workers, 40,000 of whom are domiciled outside the territory; of those, only 25% are in neighbouring towns. These different populations make a total of 386,000 daily trips, taking all modes of transport (HGVs, other heavy vehicles, buses, two-wheeled vehicles and walking) and all reasons for travelling (work and leisure) into account. Furthermore, the average density of traffic tends to increase each year, with less than 100,000 vehicles per day entering and leaving in 2007 and more than 114,600 today.

Moreover, the Principality's economic and urban development makes it necessary to anticipate this increase in travel with action in two areas: developing a master plan for urban infrastructure with the opening of the Marquet link road and the creation of the downhill tunnel; and implementing an Urban Travel Plan (PDU), centred on developing public transport, optimising the transport of goods in town, promoting clean and low-emission vehicles and developing "soft" means of travel - mobility that also has environmental implications with regard to air quality, noise levels and safety.

To adapt the transport services offered and improve customer service, it was necessary to better understand the daily practices of users and their means of travel. The Prince's Government had already carried out surveys in 2008. Today, that data must be brought up to date.

To this end, the DPUM is introducing a scheme to gather information to understand how users travel, via a major data collection scheme aimed at various different categories: residents, school pupils, working non-residents, road transport and public transport (TER trains and inter-city coaches).

On a practical level, at the beginning of April, residents will receive a letter and questionnaire, with a pre-stamped envelope to return it. It will be possible to reply to the questionnaire in writing, completely anonymously, and send it back using the pre-paid envelope, or complete the questionnaire via a specially created website.

With regard to school pupils, the questionnaire and letters will be given to the Department of Education, Youth and Sport, which will forward them to the pupils' parents. To answer the questionnaire, parents can either reply in writing or on line.

For working non-residents, the letters will be distributed via Human Resources Directors of the key economic players (businesses, banks, hospitals, etc.). The choice for the answers will be the same as for the previous categories. 

• With regard to road transport, users will be interviewed at the Principality's six main entry and departure points: the Boulevard du Jardin Exotique, Chemin de la Turbie, Avenue de Roqueville, Place du Crédit Lyonnais, the upper roundabout of the Marquet link road and the Saint Roman interchange. The surveys will take place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday 1 and Thursday 3 April 2014
• For rail users, the surveys will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the platforms of Monaco station, also on 1 and 3 April. Travellers will be interviewed by eight survey staff as they enter the train
• For inter-city coaches, the surveys will be carried out at bus stops at the network's main interchanges between 2 p.m. and 7.15 p.m. on 1 and 3 April.

 All the answers to the survey obtained on the public highway and on station platforms will, of course, be completely anonymous, and replies made on line will be received by SYSTRA on a secure website.

 This survey is very valuable. By enlarging the database, it will make it possible to:

• Understand the needs of the population in terms of transport
• Understand how residents travel today
• Develop innovative solutions for travel in order to limit the impact on the environment and the climate
• Respond to sustainable development issues
• Create transport projects for the future

 This mobility strategy is based on two complementary approaches:

• Facilitating and controlling access to the territory
• Optimising traffic within the territory

 The Prince's Government would like to thank everyone taking part in this major survey in advance.  This survey will help to bring about a more pleasant way to travel in a space shared by all the users.

Further information:

Department of Forward Studies, Urban Planning and Mobility
23, Avenue Albert II
prospective@gouv.mc
Phone:  (+377) 98 98 22 99