Place Gambetta, February 2015, with cars replaced by Carnival celebrators Photo: Basili / Wikimedia
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is planning the next step in her war on congestion and pollution, announcing a plan to at least partially pedestrianize seven of the city's best known "Places" or squares.
The seven are Place de la Bastille, Place de la Nation, Place du Pantheon, Place d'Italie, Place de la Madelieine, Place Gambetta and Place de Fetes. Under her watch the city has already moved forward with reclaiming the banks of the Seine from cars, and started removing diesel-powered trucks and buses.
Place de la Republique has already had a make-over; cars are restricted to three sides of the square, which has removed much traffic that previously used it as a roundabout. The transition of the other squares is expected to cost €30 million and be completed by 2020; as cars are re-routed from each of the squares, there will be local competitions to come up with new designs.
For more information on Hidalgo's anti-pollution campaign see this ARTICLE in The Atlantic. For more on the plan to reclaim the squares, click HERE
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