Métropole du Grand Paris: Planning and Integrating the Paris Metropolitan Region

This event featured a discussion with Catherine Barbé, the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Société du Grand Paris, about some of her experience and strategies with the implementation of the Grand Paris project, and insights and lessons on further integrating the Paris metropolitan region.

The Métropole du Grand Paris (Grand Paris) is an initiative launched in 2007 by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy for “a new global plan for the Paris metropolitan region,” which aims to improve the quality of life for the 12 million inhabitants in the Ile-de-France region, reduce intra-regional inequalities, and improve economic competitiveness of the region that accounts for almost a third of French GDP. At the heart of the scheme lies an ambitious project to modernize and expand the regional rail, metro, and light rail network in the Paris metropolitan region. The Société du Grand Paris is the state agency commissioned to design and implement the transit network expansion, and oversee urban development around the future stations of the network.