Who We Are

After completing his civil engineering studies at ETH Zurich (1936) and starting his career in the "road safety" division of the newly established "Swiss Accident Prevention Bureau (BPA)" (1938), Jean-Louis Biermann joined an expert mission to the United States.

From this country, which was far ahead in traffic management, Biermann brought back expertise and innovations that he quickly put into practice. In 1954, he opened his own office in Lausanne and actively participated in the Federal Commission for studying a national highway network. He also left his mark on mobility planning for certain cities like Geneva, by creating strategic and forward-thinking visions for the time.

A fun anecdote: An accomplished skier and a member of the Swiss Ski Federation’s Central Committee, Jean-Louis Biermann suggested in the 1940s differentiating the difficulty levels of ski slopes using coloured signs. This classification (blue, red, and black slopes) has since been adopted internationally!

In 1972, the office was transformed into a limited company to ensure its continuity under the name Transitec-Biermann Traffic Engineers SA. The management team was expanded. Transitec-Biermann began its activities in France with an intervention in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. Following various contacts in North Africa, an opportunity arose for Transitec-Biermann to work in Tunisia on flagship projects such as the traffic and regulation plan for Tunis and the rehabilitation of the Mellassine district.

The services diversified and expanded into other modes of transport: infrastructure design, traffic light regulation, public transport, traffic plans, and more.

The company changed its name to Transitec Consulting Engineers under the leadership of Philippe Blanc and Philippe Glayre, who succeeded Jean-Louis Biermann after his retirement. In Switzerland, this decade was marked by a strong local presence and close collaboration with many cities in the French-speaking region.

The 1980s also marked the true beginning of activities in France, with the opening of a local agency in Lyon-Meyzieu in 1980 and significant growth in activity. As concerns and mindsets evolved, Transitec adapted and enriched its areas of intervention. Beyond design and safety, traffic calming studies emerged, and the incorporation of alternative modes to the car gained prominence in the development of strategies and public space designs.

This decade also saw major projects for Transitec: the Geneva harbor crossing, Paris-Bercy Omnisports Palace, TSOL in Lausanne, and MLT in Tunis.

After establishing itself in France, Transitec continued its geographic diversification with the establishment of two new agencies: in Belgium and Portugal from 1998.

At the beginning of the 1990s, Lausanne and its agglomeration became the setting for a coherent and proactive approach to mobility planning, in which Transitec played a key role.

During the 1950s and 1960s, trams were considered outdated, but they made a comeback in several of the group’s intervention areas. In Geneva, Strasbourg, Lisbon-Almada, and Nancy, Transitec was heavily involved in implementing this tool, which significantly transformed urban transport offerings and public spaces.

The 1990s also saw several projects emerge in Africa, including Cotonou, Libreville, and Antananarivo.

Under the expanded leadership of Jean-Marc Dupasquier, Sylvain Guillaume-Gentil, and Francis Caucheteux, Transitec opened an office in Bern in the German-speaking region of Switzerland and another in Rabat, Morocco. In addition, activities in France were consolidated with the creation of agencies in Paris and Strasbourg.

The Belgian team expanded its activities with the implementation of municipal mobility plans (PCM) and the innovative training of Mobility Advisors (CeM).

Elsewhere, tram studies and associated traffic schemes became increasingly prevalent (Geneva, Caen, Grenoble, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Nice, Barcelona, Seville, Almada, Coimbra, etc.). The connection between transport and land use planning became more significant in mobility policies. In parallel, intermodality and the management and planning of trip chains became essential in addressing acute mobility problems in city centers and suburban areas.

Transitec continued its activities in North Africa, including planning mobility in the Tangier agglomeration in Morocco.

Committed to staying close to its clients and partners while also embracing numerous international missions, Transitec restructured, incorporating Martin Stucki and Christophe Diani into the group’s general management.

In the context of increasingly coveted and limited public spaces, coupled with the need to rationalize local government budgets, Transitec continued providing support and advice by seeking optimal multimodal solutions tailored to each local context. This is reflected in Transitec’s motto, “mobility optimizers,” which expresses the desire to "do more with less."

The rise of active mobility, particularly cycling, became increasingly central to urban mobility policies. On this topic, Transitec’s expertise in various contexts, particularly in the German-speaking region, proved invaluable.

The emergence of major infrastructure projects (trams, BHNS, interfaces, highway junctions), whose implementation had significant impacts on cities and agglomerations, allowed Transitec to develop real expertise in project support, ensuring the projects' realization while minimizing negative effects.

More than ever, mobility is a central issue for public policies and the population. In addition to the classic challenges that fueled Transitec’s development, new ones have emerged: the climate emergency, mobility digitization, the safety of active modes, behavioural changes, and more.

Transitec continues to develop its expertise, emphasizing renewed approaches, enhanced use of digital tools, and better integration of sociological concepts and behavioural changes. Transitec’s teams are strengthening their commitment, convinced that only a coherent approach can “move the needle” toward more sustainable and inclusive mobility.

In developing countries where Transitec continues its activities (French-speaking and English-speaking Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, etc.), the search for solutions adapted to local resources and contexts has earned the company a global reputation in certain fields (artisanal transport, traffic management, and active modes).

In terms of corporate governance, a “revolution” took place in 2023, with the transfer of Transitec’s ownership to its employees. With nearly 90 employee co-owners, the "We, Transitec!" project establishes the conditions to ensure the group’s long-term sustainability and independence.

Finally, starting in 2024, the arrival of Aline Renard and Fabien Garcia as the group’s co-general directors, succeeding Martin Stucki, confirms that Transitec’s evolution aligns with its reaffirmed values.