France Visits Florida for Rail and Public Transit Opportunities

March 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Last week, the Ubifrance-French Trade Commission hosted a trade mission in Florida that brought together the leading French rail and public transportation firms to develop business opportunities and exchanges within the state. The delegation included big names in French transport such as SNCF and SYSTRA Consulting, as well as manufacturers, engineering firms and transportation services specialists.

From February 21 to 25, 2011, the delegation visited four regions that each has specific public transportation needs: Miami, Tampa Bay, Orlando and Polk County. Site visits and meetings served as showcases for cutting-edge technology in the field. Léo Le Brun, senior trade advisor at Ubifrance and organizer of the mission, explained that Florida's population growth will require better public transit and that France has the experience that will serve its projects well.

"Florida is one of the fastest growing regions in North America in terms of population. By 2040, Orlando's population is projected to increase by 67%, and Miami and Tampa will grow by about 35%. This population boom sheds a light on the need for better connectivity," said Le Brun. "France's transit services like the TGV (France's high-speed rail line) and metropolitan tramways are great examples of the country's extensive experience in public transport, as well as its continuing innovation in the field."

The goals for the mission were to better understand Florida’s transportation needs, understand how commuter rail and local transit improvements can improve transportation for Floridians and discover how the visiting French companies can assist. The group visited sites such as the AirportLink Metrorail Extension Project in Miami-Dade County; TBARTA, Tampa City Hall (where they met with Mayor Pam Ioria) and HART headquarters in Tampa; and the Florida Department of Transportation and LYNX headquarters in Orlando. The French delegation also participated in the SunRail Industry Forum on Febuary 25, where the group interacted with FDOT and its partners in the commuter rail line project.

One of the delegation's participants, Isabelle Noblanc of SYSTRA Consulting, spoke of the enthusiasm she saw from Florida transport leaders during the visits.

"What is truly impressive is the dedication of Florida business, transit and economic development leaders to the improvement of urban mobility, a crucial component of economic growth and sustainability. SYSTRA is proud and honored to be involved in some of these transportation projects and to contribute to job creation in Florida," said Noblanc, vice president of strategy and marketing for SYSTRA Consulting, one of the delegation's participants.

The French delegation included: Bureau Veritas, Oktal, RATP Dev, SCOMA, SNCF, SYSTRA Consulting, and Yellow Window. These companies have perfected their offer and technologies over decades of experience and have exported around the world. Click here to download a PDF document with more details on each participant.

France is a leader in multimodal transit solutions for urban areas and has pioneered innovative transportation ideas such as the Vélib' bike-sharing program in Paris. France also has 30 years of experience in high-speed rail, being one of the world leaders in its design, technology and operation. Each year, tens of millions of tourists and professionals ride the well-known French TGV throughout the country and to neighboring capitals.  

The Ubifrance-French Trade Commission benefitted from the help of the economic development organizations as well as that of the French consular corps in Florida.

For more information, please contact:

UBIFRANCE PRESS SERVICE
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3730
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel.: (312) 327-5260
E-mail: contact.ftpo@ubifrance.fr