Governance is not the only blocking point. Political will is lacking (That's what is meant by "lacking money ; when there is a will there is a way). Pompidou did build both the RER and way to many highways around Paris.  But the French government is content with building clientelist bits of highway here and there, and lets the regional rail infrastructure rust. No mayor dares to undertake projects longer than their mandates since a town in infrastructure building mode, with dug up streets, means risking losing one's position. Metro lines are extended one station at a time, which costs less yearly, but ends up wasting money as each stop change means rebuilding maintenance workshops...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères