Boulogne-sur-Mer - France

Solution

Providing customized mobility service

The Boulonnais federation of communities covers 22 municipalities around the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer. To connect its 120,000 residents, the regional authority has developed the Marinéo network, comprising 23 routes – 15 city and eight “green” – to service the rural districts, coupled with school services, on-demand transportation and services for people with reduced mobility. 

Free shuttles serve the center of Boulogne-sur-Mer, while two routes operate on market days, enabling residents to go shopping without having to take the car.

Building strong relationships with the regional authority 

Since 2013, Marinéo has been operated by CTB, a subsidiary of RATP Dev. It implements the strategies defined by the regional authority and fulfils the role of technical consultant. One of the major projects undertaken, the moving and upgrading of the bus station, was an opportunity to introduce new passenger services such as contactless passes that can be topped up at self-service machines, and information displays indicating traffic and timetables in real time.

Innovating to improve the well-being of local residents and protect the environment 

In May 2017, CTB, in partnership with the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer and the regional authority, tested a driverless, all-electric shuttle with a capacity of 12 people and accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. With its on-board computer system, it operates with the aid of cameras, sensors and 3D route recognition.  
The trial was a great success and passengers were asked for feedback on the new service, along with suggestions for improvements. Information in terms of performance, reliability and operational safety was also gathered in order to optimize this complementary mode of transportation, which is an ideal first mile/last mile solution.