Can rail save a peri-urban way of life? The case of peri-urban cities served by rail services in the metropolitan area of Lille (France)

Abstract

Urban sprawl and the process of peri-urbanization have been important challenges for cities all around the world, generating car dependency. Public policies have taken up this issue with the aim of managing peri-urban mobilities by considering the opportunity of rail services through a sustainable approach. Indeed, the enhancement of the railway system has been at the heart of concerns of land use public stakeholders since the early 2000s. This paper suggests a specific approach to assess how rail may contribute to a sustainable management in peri-urban areas. It aims to analyse if railway enhancement is really a topic taken into account by all the stakeholders, whether they are inhabitants, elected representatives or representatives of economic societies. It relies on analysing the representations they have for peri-urban areas. Based on a specific methodological approach, it shows a certain convergence of interests in living near peri-urban railway stations, which could contribute to strengthen ‘urbanity’ in a sustainable way.