It is operated by the Société nouvelle des transports de l'agglomération niçoise division of Transdev[1] under the name Lignes d'azur.
[3] In addition, the Nice Côte d'Azur urban region decided to extend Line 1 to the Pasteur neighbourhood.
Like many other French cities, Nice has major traffic problems, including the fact that most economic activities are concentrated in the centre.
Trams were chosen because they appeared to be more reliable than buses, since they are not subject to the vagaries of traffic, but they are less expensive than a subway line.
The tram was declared a public utility in 2003 and work began the same year; the line was placed in service on 24 November 2007 after several weeks of technical trials, even though construction was not fully completed.
The Fontaine du Temple neighbourhood where the Comte de Falicon tram stop is built has been remodelled for the arrival of the tramway.
Starting at Port Lympia in the east and ending at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and Nikaïa in the west, serving 20 stations in total.
In addition, an extension of the original Line 1 (T1) from its current terminus at Hôpital Pasteur to the northern neighbourhood of L'Ariane is being considered.
[14] Art works are used throughout the line, including sculptures of figures by Jaume Plensa, on the top of pylons on the Place Massena.
Artists Benjamin Vautier, known as "Ben" (who designed the station name signs), the Mado la Niçoise, Michael Lonsdale and others make voice announcements inside the tram.
However, this plan was modified in favor of a hybrid system where the tram is able to operate on both conventional overhead power supply 750 VDC catenary wires using a pantograph (in much of the underground and central city areas of Nice) as well as using on-board nickel metal hydride batteries without pantograph (for most distances of the outer suburbs, and for example where the tram crosses the Place Masséna and Place Garibaldi).