After confronting the creators of REM de l’Est about a plan to install elevated tracks in downtown Montreal, Prime Minister Francois Lego announced that the Quebec government would take over the large-scale public transport project and cancel its part in the center.
The original developer, CDPQ Infra – a subsidiary of the pension fund manager in Quebec, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec – has already been released. Lego and Montreal Mayor Valerie Plant made the announcement at a news conference Monday.
Lego said the plan to have tracks built had not been “socially acceptable”. The province will explore other major changes.
Without the raised platforms, the project, which came with an initial cost of $ 10 billion, is no longer viable for CDPQ Infra, the prime minister said. He also added that he understands why the developer would no longer want to continue.
It is not yet clear how these major changes will affect the cost and schedule of the project. REM de l’Est was due to be completed in 2029 for the first time.
“People who know me know that I don’t have much patience and I want this project to be completed as soon as possible,” Lego said.
“This is crucial for the development of the eastern tip of Montreal.”
WATCH The Prime Minister of Quebec explains why the province intervenes:
Lego explains why the province and the city are taking over the REM de l’Est project
The Quebec prime minister says he is confident his government and the city of Montreal can create a viable version of the project after CDPQ Infra withdraws. 0:57
On Monday, Plante described the original plan to have tracks built in the eastern part of the center as a “historic mistake that absolutely had to be avoided.”
Plante’s concerns were backed up by a report by an expert advisory committee, which said the raised platforms would hurt the eyes and “break” the cityscape. There were also fears that this would undermine the quality of life in nearby neighborhoods, including the city’s historic Chinatown.
Experts and officials have expressed concern that the proposed design of REM de l’Est, with its raised platforms, will divide neighborhoods and make some areas less accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. (CDPQ infra)
The mayor of Montreal has long insisted that the city have a tougher hand in shaping the public transport project.
Going forward, the main partners working with the province will be the Regional Transit Planning Agency for the Greater Montreal Region (ARTM), the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), the City of Montreal and the Provincial Ministry of Transport.
The project has already been halted after CDPQ Infra tried to postpone public environmental hearings this spring.
In a statement, MNA’s Québec Solidaire accused the Legault government of incompetence in public transport.
“The government will end its mandate with confusion and not delivering anything concrete to the eastern part of Montreal on transit issues,” said Alexander Lediuk, who represents Hoshelaga-Mezonyov’s ride.
REM de l’Est was originally set to include 23 stations along a 32-kilometer route, stretching from the city center to the eastern quarters of Pointe-aux-Trembles and Montréal-Nord, which have long ceased to be served by public transport. from underground tunnels and overhead tracks.
“The connection with the center is key”
The Prime Minister outlined four potential changes that the partners want to explore:
- Better integration of REM de l’Est with the green metro line.
- Expand the project to serve the municipalities in the Lanodier region.
- Study of the possibility of building stations in the eastern part of Laval.
- Ensuring the “harmonious integration” of the project in the Mercier-Est district, where the Souligny station will be built.
The plan to integrate REM de l’Est with the Green Line raises concerns about how easily residents of the eastern end will be able to reach the center.
Asked if Monday’s announcement meant there would be no direct connection from the east to the city center, Plante said he would entrust himself to a new team of experts to come up with a new design.
REM de l’Est was Caisse’s second major public transport project. His first REM project – which is expected to be phased in between 2024 and 2024 – will link Trudeau and West Island International Airport to central Montreal and the South Coast.
According to Québec Solidaire MNA Alexander Leduc, the Legault government is incompetent when it comes to public transport. (Ivano Demers / Radio Canada)
“It is hard to believe that the South Coast and the West Island will be directly connected to the city center and that there is no east of Montreal,” said Jean-Denis Charest, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce for the east end of the city.
“If we really want the East, in 25, 35, 50 years, to be the region we believe it can be, I think the connection in the center is key.
Charest said he understood the need for a change in the management of REM de l’Est, but stressed that the province must find a way to activate the public transport system within ten years.
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