Monaco’s long-anticipated ‘Brasca’ park-and-ride project, located at the intersection of Eze and La Turbie near the A500 tunnel, is finally gaining momentum. The princely government, which initially announced plans for this ambitious transit hub in October 2023, has now issued a formal call for applications to design, construct, finance, and operate the facility, marking a significant step toward realisation.

Park-and-Ride with Express Underground Link to Monaco

The project envisions a massive park-and-ride facility with 3,500 parking spaces, plus or minus 15 percent, and an express underground transit system connecting directly to Monaco. The plans also include a passenger station at the park-and-ride site and an underground station within Monaco, to be located between the Charles-III block and Place d’Armes. The transportation infrastructure will be equipped with “preferably automatic” rolling stock.

Capacity and Future Expansion Plans

Initially, the system is designed to handle 2,400 passengers per hour in each direction, with the potential to increase capacity to 3,600 passengers per hour. Monaco’s government has left room for further expansion, encouraging candidates to propose additional stations or line extensions as part of their bids. Both the transport infrastructure and equipment must be built with scalability in mind, allowing future expansions in France and Monaco.

Cost and Timeline

The overall project, including two stations and the transport system, is expected to cost approximately 1.2 billion euros. However, the timeline for implementation is significant, with an estimated six to eight years between signing the contract and bringing the system into operation. The project will only move forward once a bilateral agreement between France and Monaco is in place.

Next Steps for Bidders

Interested parties have until February 28, 2025, at noon to submit their proposals to Monaco’s Department of Equipment, Environment, and Urban Planning. The successful candidate will also be entrusted with operating the transport system for a period of 10 to 15 years following its completion.

This major development could transform mobility between France and Monaco, providing a much-needed solution to traffic congestion and offering a modern, scalable transport option for the region.

Image courtesy of Eric on Flickr: the Brasca site being used for Formula 1 storage