New conditions for tramway: Government does not like shared street in René-Lévesque

Bruno Marchand’s tramway project is in the dark. The Legault government did not want to know anything about the shared street in René-Lévesque, a scene desired by the mayor of Quebec, which could increase the travel time of many motorists. Newspaper.

Read more: Tram: Double the travel time on the Grande Alley and lorry

Read more: Tramway: Merchant agrees that traffic figures should have been made public

According to our information, the long-awaited order is due to be issued on April 6. But beware, it is subject to new conditions.

In the CAQ, we believe that the latest developments in the tramway file make it difficult to reconcile with the government’s view of Réseau express de la capital. These projects should benefit the entire metropolitan population of Quebec. They should benefit both motorists and public transport users.

“It is not true that the Quebec Tramway is detrimental to residents of Quebec City and to motorists leaving the suburbs or suburbs,” one source emphasized.

In government, we have not digested the recent announcements of Bruno Mercantile about neighboring municipalities.

“We did not build the tramway for the people of Portnew […] Of Chatto-Richter [ou de] Of St. Appalliner […] If they get frustrated, it’s their turn [de déplacement] In the long run, this will be because we are building a tramway for the people of Quebec, ”the city’s number one argued a few days ago.

The Boulevard Laurier is one of the main economic arteries and bridges to large areas of Quebec City. According to the government, adding traffic to the already completed queue to get to the South Coast would not be the right solution.

Behind the scenes we argue that “transferring 80% of René-Lévesque’s traffic to Grande Allee and Laurier Boulevard is unacceptable”.

The main financier of the tramway project, the government considers it necessary to impose new conditions on the city, especially if social acceptance is not optimal. Last January, a Leger poll showed support for the tramway as high as 41%.

One source underscores that citizens will also have the opportunity to position themselves under these new conditions of the CAQ in the autumn general elections.

Recall a document recently produced by the City of Quebec Newspaper The Merchant administration announces a “significant increase” in traffic volumes and travel times in the Grande Alley, while maintaining the desired conditions.

The municipal administration expects the number of vehicles on the René-Lévesque Boulevard to be halved, from 12,600 daily to 6,400. On the other hand, the city estimates that “79% of traffic leaves Rene-Lewesk Boulevard. [seront] Re-assigned to Grande Alley.

Long live the mistress Reactions

Tuesday afternoon, info from Newspaper Had the effect of a bomb and quickly aroused many furious reactions.

Claude Villanuev, Quebec’s first president, confirmed that “the CAQ is working, so the project is less efficient, so there is less stickiness. They do not want this project to happen.”

Similar rationale from the head of Transition Quebec. “It’s clear the government wants to kill the project,” city councilor Jackie Smith said. The latter lamented, “This interruption of the CAQ decides to impose its will to promote the completely obsolete model of‘ everything in the car ’. If the social acceptance of the tramway project is so low, it is because the CAQ continues to dismiss it.

Mr. Villenov and Mr.^Me Smith called on both Bruno marchers to “fight” for the success of the project and promised to stand with him in this struggle.

Quebec 21, a municipal party opposed to the tramway, responded with a press release. Boulevard reiterated that “René-Lévesque did not meet the criteria for becoming a shared street in Quebec City”, and Quebec 21 welcomed the call for an order from the Quebec government, the main financier of the project. According to the party, “Mayor Markand has no choice but to cooperate with all relevant authorities.”

In Ottawa, the cabinet of Liberal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos reacted by announcing. Without naming the Quebec government, the federal government said “delays would incur additional costs and harm to the project. The best is often the enemy of the good. Dissolution must stop. Progress must be made to avoid repeating past mistakes.”

When he commented on the filing of the Quebec budget, Mayor Markand did not respond until after this Tuesday afternoon.

– In collaboration with Mother Moalla

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