The EDF Savoie Une Rivière Un Territoire Agency is co-organizing, 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 Mitterand in Montmélian.
Over the past five years, accessibility and poor intermodality of transport networks have been hindering visitor numbers to winter sports resorts, disrupting tourism and the daily lives of residents in the areas concerned.
Through a conference and two round tables featuring testimonials from economic actors involved in the development and management of mobility in France and Switzerland, this morning event will allow participants to share experiences and practices and to outline the prospects for more sustainable mobility in mountain areas.
On the agenda
- 8:15 a.m.: Welcome coffee
- 9 a.m.: Introduction
by Manuel Lenas, Director of the EDF Savoie Une Rivière Un Territoire Agency, and Franck Barruel, Director of INES Training and Evaluation
Morning moderator Alexis Olivier Sbriglio - 9:15–9:45 a.m.: Conference “Mobility in the mountains: from unsustainable to sustainable”
by Jean Varlet, professor at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc
“The analysis of mobility in the Alps provides useful insights into access to the mountains and internal traffic. With some struggling to achieve sustainability and others meeting sustainability requirements, the issues, difficulties encountered, and responses in terms of the organization and development of networks and resorts are all addressed." - 9:45–10:45 a.m.: Round Table 1 "Improving access to stations: a matter of engineering, planning, or behavior?"
"On February 23, 2019, more than 156,000 vehicles were counted in Savoie during the winter holiday rush. Delays, fatigue, and frustration make it difficult to arrive and be welcomed at the resort. But are there alternatives to cars that would allow tourists to access winter sports resorts more peacefully?"
Witnesses: Pascal Fivaz, Deputy Director – Head of the Passenger Department – Transports Publics du Chablais SA, Jean Souchal, Chairman of the Executive Board of Pomagalski - 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Round Table 2 "Optimizing travel in resorts: a matter of innovation, management, urban planning?"
"100% car-free: an aspiration that is increasingly appealing to tourists. But how can we get around the resort, how can we manage tourist flows smoothly, and which modes of transport should we prioritize to be 100% sustainable?"
Speakers: Ludovic Henry, Technical Director of SIVAL (Syndicat Intercommunal de la Vallée du Louron – Hautes Pyrénées), Vincent Pellissier, Head of Mobility, State of Valais, and Pascal de Thiersant, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Société des 3 Vallées - 12 noon: Summary of the morning
Keynote speaker: André Plaisance, Mayor of Les Belleville – Les Menuires/Val Thorens, President of the Communauté de Communes Cœur de Tarentaise, Vice-President of the Association Nationale des Maires des Stations de Montagne, President of the Fédération Nationale de la Sécurité et des Secours sur les Domaines Skiables
Closing remarks by Patrick Grand’Eury, President of Cluster Montagne - 12:30 p.m.: Tour of the Show Room
- Buffet
Learn more
- [Register]
- Workshop website
- Contacts:
- Jean Varlet, professor at USMB
- Nicolas Forestier, Vice President in charge of research promotion at USMB

