The Location Of Logistics Activities In Metropolitan Areas As An Issue Of Urban Planning: A Comparison Of Paris and Montreal

Jean Debrie (1) , Adeline Heitz (2)

1 GC (UMR_8504) - Géographie-cités
2 IFSTTAR/AME/SPLOTT - Systèmes Productifs, Logistique, Organisation des Transports et Travail

Metropolitan areas are characterized by their function, which is to be an interface between an international network of cities and activities, and a local network. They are nodes in transport systems and in logistics systems at different scales. They have become the favored urban areas for the location and organization of logistics activities. The issue of logistics sprawl has emerged as a topic in the literature (Dablanc, Ross, 2010; Andriankaja, 2011) and it has become an issue of urban and transport planning. In a comparison between the two metropolitan areas of Montreal and Paris, we attempt to analyze the spatial evolution of the logistics activities and freight transportation and the challenges that arise, especially regarding public policies. Firstly we will analyze spatial dynamics (logistics sprawl, polarization) in Montreal and Paris, based on a literature review and analysis on the distribution of the logistics facilities and transport infrastructures. Then, using a review of the planning documents of these metropolitan areas, and a series of interviews conducted in 2013 in Montreal and in 2013-2014 in Paris; we will analyze the response in terms of planning of the public policies to these spatial evolution. Finally, we will highlight the complexity of the system of actors involved in the logistics development. These spatial dynamics of concentration and sprawl make public action more complex and blur the boundaries and the level of public action. In metropolitan areas, public action tends to focus on dense urban areas. The hyper regulated dense central areas are opposed to peripheral areas where market forces are exercised freely. The issues of planning logistics areas go beyond local policies, and challenge the young metropolitan communities, as new public stakeholders. This article aims to clarify the governance of the logistics issue in a comparative approach, to discuss the limits, challenges, and reveal the role of new metropolitan public actors.

Mots clés: COM; CRIA; Montreal; Metropolitan Areas; Logistics Sprawl; Urban Planning; Transport Infrastructures; Paris

Domaines: Architecture, aménagement de l'espace

Jean Debrie, Adeline Heitz. The Location Of Logistics Activities In Metropolitan Areas As An Issue Of Urban Planning: A Comparison Of Paris and Montreal. WORLD CONFERENCE ON TRANSPORT RESEARCH , Jul 2016, Shangai, China. ⟨hal-01862041⟩