What is prior consultation?  What is it for?

The preliminary consultation, which is being held from 5 October to 11 December 2026 under the aegis of the National Commission for Public Debate, is an essential phase of dialogue. It intervenes upstream of decisions, at a time when the project can still evolve. Its scope is wide. In accordance with Article L. 121-15-1 of the Environmental Code, it must provide an opportunity to debate:

• the opportunity, objectives and characteristics of the project;

• the socio-economic issues related to them as well as their significant impacts on the environment and regional development;

• alternative solutions, including the lack of implementation of the project;

• the procedures for informing and participating the public after the preliminary consultation.

It will also provide an opportunity to discuss land use planning and accessibility.

Residents, users, associations, economic actors and elected officials are invited to get informed, to exchange and to express their opinions and make proposals. For Île-de-France Mobilités and RATP, it is essential and allows us to gather everyone's opinion on the project (opportunity, alternatives, location of structures, phasing) and the new variants proposed.

The opinions, questions and proposals collected will help the teams to make a recommendation on whether or not to continue with the project, to develop the project, to decide on its route, to guide the in-depth studies to come, to choose the variants and to specify the project as closely as possible to the expectations and needs of the territory, before a new public inquiry, if the project continues.