First envisioned during the 1990s as a means of providing better public transportation through Paris's northern suburbs, particularly the expanding districts of Pierrefitte-sur-Seine and Lochères in Sarcelles, actual planning activity for the line started during 1999.

Line T5 was designed with the stated aim of providing superior public transportation services in the northern suburbs of Paris, France, specifically the two neighborhoods of Pierrefitte-sur-Seine and Lochères in Sarcelles, which have been identified as possessing an expanding population during the years running up to the turn of the century.

[1] It was built to serve in excess of 86,000 neighbouring residents spread across five different communities, these being Saint-Denis, Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, Sarcelles, Garges-les-Gonesse and Montmagny.

Transit operator RATP became the principal contractor for the Line 5's construction, which included multiple stations and a maintenance depot.

[1] The regional councils of Val d’Oise and Seine-Saint-Denis were assigned responsibility for the civil works relating to the highway and associated public spaces.

Displacement work stated that same month in Valley d’ Oise; by January 2009, the process had reportedly reached the vicinity of Seine-Saint-Denis.

[1] The tram vehicle possesses a relatively small axial radius of 10.5 metres, which is a favourable quality for the T5 line, which has been considered to be somewhat curvy and have sharp bends present along its route.