Franco–Valdo–Genevois Agglomeration Project
The cross-border agglomeration of Geneva (600’000 inhabitants in the core area, 1.5 million inhabitants in the entire region) is trying to curb the trend of uncontrolled urban sprawl and establish a balance between living and working as well as a high spatial quality. Planning began in 2007 within the framework of the Swiss agglomeration programs. The goal of these programs is to strengthen the (international) competitiveness of Swiss cities and agglomerations while simultaneously promoting sustainable, high-quality urban development.
A key starting point, however, was the retreat of the public sector and limited public financial resources: therefore, urban development models with forward-looking, highly efficient, and implementable solutions are required. Planning began with the first agglomeration program “Franco–Valdo–Genevois” and was deepened between 2008 and 2011 with the PACA studies (Périmètres d’aménagement coordonnées d‘agglomération). The first agglomeration program was updated with the 2nd and 3rd agglomeration programs in 2012 and 2016 under the name “Grand Genève.”
The Geneva agglomeration spans two countries, four regions (the Swiss cantons of Geneva and Vaud, and the French departments of Haute-Savoie and Ain), and includes 212 (!) independent municipalities. The historically strategic location at the intersection of three landscapes (Jura, Alps, Rhône Valley) makes the region very diverse. However, it is also a region of contrasts, with extreme economic and demographic dynamism around Lake Geneva and simultaneously structurally weak areas experiencing significant decline (Jurabogen, Bellegarde).
The first agglomeration program marked the beginning of cross-border regional spatial planning cooperation. It was therefore important to consider all subregions equally. The basic idea of the concept is, on one hand, to concentrate development in the core agglomeration along six historical main access routes, with new efficient public transport axes (tram, regiotram) as the backbone and an optimal connection to the six new CEVA stations (the new cross-border S-Bahn line between Geneva and Annemasse). A key objective was to minimize dependence on car traffic, focusing instead on energy-efficient, compact, integrated urban and transport systems and preserving the generous landscape within the dense urban area.
On the other hand, the concept aimed for qualitative development and efficient networking of the peripheral subregions. Here, the existing and partly disused rail network, supplemented by selected historic main routes with fast regional bus connections, plays a new structuring role. The concentrated frequencies of public transport are viewed as an opportunity and are used to enhance local areas. Targeted qualitative densification around small train stations and in the areas of village throughways takes advantage of good visibility and traffic frequencies, thus securing local supply and social infrastructure.
A new spatial planning regulatory framework at regional and municipal levels enables qualitative densification of the existing settlement area.
