Despite Metro 3 uncertainty, researchers recommend extension from Forest to Uccle

While the Metro 3 project remains bogged down by political uncertainty and budget issues, three research agencies are currently conducting a study on behalf of the federal Brussels fund Beliris into another possible line providing "high-quality public transport" to Uccle and Forest.

The construction of a new metro line is being considered, Bruzz reports, although with the ongoing absence of a Brussels government and continuing financial woes, it seems highly unlikely to happen any time soon.

The Metro 3 project has been under scrutiny by a special committee in the Brussels parliament for weeks now, with the project facing technical difficulties, skyrocketing construction costs and growing uncertainty about its future.

The parliamentary committee was set up after a report by the Court of Auditors issued sharp criticism regarding the way the project was handled, noting major errors and alleging negligence in the planning, preparation and management of the major public project.

The other potential project targeting the southern part of the Brussels region remains in the early stages.

“The dossier is currently in the initial phase of the opportunity study,” explained Elien De Swaef of Beliris. “This may lead to a feasibility study.”

The opportunity study was commissioned at the end of 2023 and is being carried out by the association SYMES (composed of the research agencies Stratec, Systra and Multiplicity) at a cost of about €775,000.

The aim was to investigate ways to improve public transport in the south-west of the city, a part of the Brussels region that is currently poorly served and has the highest level of car ownership.

With the opportunity study almost complete, the initial results were presented to the steering committee overseeing the project and to the Regional Mobility Commission.

SYMES is still processing comments from the committee and commission and has yet to submit the results to the government, which will then decide what to do with the findings.

“It’s normal that we first inform the government and only then communicate with the wider public,” De Swaef noted.

The now-stalled Metro 3 project was already due to serve Forest, with a terminus at Albert. Extending the route to Uccle was discussed at municipal level in 2021, although Forest and Uccle each had different routes in mind.

The Metro 3 investigative committee in the Brussels parliament comes after a Court of Auditors report highlighted the cost explosion of 255% between 2015 and 2024 with a current estimation of the cost at €4.76 billion, a lack of transparency in the audit process and shortcomings surrounding constructing a tunnel under the Palais du Midi.

The report also noted “multiple malfunctions” in tenders for the Bordet-Nord section.

Formally, the special committee is responsible for “shedding light on the genesis, management and execution of the Metro 3 project, on the documents and decisions relating to the project; establishing a precise and quantified record of the expenses incurred, tracing the chain of responsibility and hearing the parties involved”.

The Court of Auditors, Beliris, STIB, Brussels Mobility, SM Toots construction company, the ministers for mobility and the budget in the Brussels region, and the ministers responsible for Beliris since 2009, are cited in this regard.

The committee will have to formulate structural recommendations for the future management of major infrastructure projects in the Brussels region.

In the eyes of liberal (MR) politician and economist Olivier Willocx, the Court of Auditors’ report highlighted “everything a public project should not be. The fragmentation of project management from Brussels Mobility to Stiv, then to Beliris, diluted responsibilities and resulted in a lack of coordination, delays, cost overruns and decisions without a clear direction,” he argued, saying that a large-scale project must have a single leader and rigorous and transparent cost monitoring.

Stib said it was “waiting calmly for the committee to ‘restore the facts that have been undermined by inaccurate and prejudicial statements’.”

Appearing in front of the committee recently, Brussels minister-president Rudi Vervoort said it was "up to us, together with all parties involved, to learn from this and improve our project management, both for this expansion and for other major infrastructure projects that the region still needs to implement".

He added: "It is up to the next government to make the necessary decisions to adjust the project and respond to the challenges of mobility and territorial development, which remain crucial for our region."