Innovation workshop – "Mobility in the mountains: what if we made it sustainable? Innovating for access and mobility in resorts"

November 5, 2019, 8:15 a.m. - November 5, 2019, 1:00 p.m.

The EDF Savoie Une Rivière Un Territoire Agency is co-organizing, together with the University of Savoie Mont Blanc and other partners,the innovation workshop “Mobility in the Mountains: What If We Made It Sustainable? Innovating for Access and Mobility in Resorts.” This workshop will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at the Espace François Mitterrand in Montmélian.

Over the past five years, poor accessibility and limited intermodal connectivity in transportation networks have hindered visitation to winter sports resorts, disrupting both the reception of tourists and the daily lives of residents in the affected regions.
Through a conference and two roundtable discussions featuring testimonials from economic stakeholders involved in the planning and management of mobility in French and Swiss regions, this morning session will allow participants to share experiences and best practices, and to outline the prospects for more sustainable mobility in mountain areas.

On the agenda

  • 8:15 a.m.: Welcome coffee
  • 9:00 a.m.: Introduction to “
    ” by Manuel Lenas, Director of the EDF Savoie “Une Rivière Un Territoire” Agency, and Franck Barruel, Director of INES Training and Evaluation
    Morning session moderator: Alexis Olivier Sbriglio
  •  9:15–9:45 a.m.: Lecture “Mobility in Mountain Regions: From Unsustainable to Sustainable”
    by Jean Varlet, Professor at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc
    “An analysis of mobility in the Alps provides useful insights for reflecting on access to mountain regions and internal transportation within them. With some areas struggling with sustainability and others meeting sustainability requirements, the article addresses the challenges, the difficulties encountered, and the solutions regarding the organization and planning of networks and resorts.”
  • 9:45–10:45 a.m.: Roundtable 1 “Improving Access to Ski Resorts: A Matter of Engineering, Planning, or Behavior?”
    “On February 23, 2019, more than 156,000 vehicles were recorded in Savoie during the winter holiday rush. Delays, fatigue, and frustration make it difficult to arrive at and thus enjoy the resort. But are there alternatives to driving that would allow tourists to reach winter sports resorts more stress-free?”
    Interviews: Pascal Fivaz, Deputy Director – Head of the Passenger Department – Transports Publics du Chablais SA, Jean Souchal, Chairman of the Board of Pomagalski
  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Roundtable 2 “Optimizing Transportation in the Resort: A Matter of Innovation, Management, and Urban Planning?”
    “100% car-free—an aspiration that is increasingly appealing to tourists. But how do we get around the resort, how do we manage tourist flows smoothly, and which modes of transportation should we prioritize to achieve a 100% sustainable approach?”
    Speakers: Ludovic Henry, Technical Director of SIVAL (Intercommunal Union of the Louron Valley – Hautes-Pyrénées), Vincent Pellissier, Head of the Mobility Department, State of Valais, and Pascal de Thiersant, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 3 Vallées Company
  • 12:00 PM: Summary of the morning session
    Keynote Speaker: André Plaisance, Mayor of Les Belleville – Les Menuires / Val Thorens, President of the Cœur de Tarentaise Community of Communes, Vice President of the National Association of Mountain Resort Mayors, President of the National Federation for Safety and Rescue in Ski Areas
    Closing remarks for the morning session by Patrick Grand’Eury, President of the Mountain Cluster
  • 12:30 p.m.: Tour of the Showroom
  • Buffet

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