Île-de-France tramway Line 1 marked the return to this type of transportation, having been absent in the region since 1957, and was the result of a long battle between the Seine-Saint-Denis General Council and the towns through which it would pass. In July 1976, the "schéma directeur d'aménagement et d'urbanisme de la région parisienne" ("Organizing Plan for the Development and Urbanism of the Region of Paris") caused the creation of ring roads to the north and south of the agglomeration to facilitate links between different suburbs for which there was a constantly increasing demand. A "schéma directeur des sites propres" ("Directing plan for dedicated lines") was created by the RATP in response to a request from the "direction régionale de l'Équipement d'Île-de-France" ("Regional direction for equipment of Î-d-F"). It notably discussed the issue of traffic congestion on Route nationale 186 (N186) which would be greatly relieved by the creation of the A86 autoroute.