Tramway plans in Montreal: Quebec “shouldn't be on the sidelines”

With two tramway projects underway in Montreal, Mayor Marchand fears Quebec will be neglected and warns that his city cannot exist without building traffic and risk developers preferring the metropole to the capital.

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“If we are on the sidelines while others are advancing, it definitely hurts us. Currently, this is not the case and no decision has been made. We will talk again at the appropriate time,” he said.

Bruno Marchand is keeping a close eye on what's brewing at the other end of the 20's. In recent weeks, Montreal media have revealed that two tram projects are being prepared for the Regional Metropolitan Transportation Agency (ARTM): one for replacement. East REM and another in South West Division. So far, the Legault government hasn't taken a position on either of these plans, but Quebec's mayor is impatient to know where it fits.

“Let's wait and see what the government responds. This is the proposal of ARTM. Montreal can and should develop, but so must Quebec.

The Quebec tramway project is in “slow down” mode due to the Legault government's decision to entrust new thinking on transportation to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec Infra, meanwhile, the development of project structures in Montreal is bringing “revival.” , Meyer analyzes.

“Put yourself in the shoes of a real estate developer. If you had land in Montreal and land in Quebec, which would you choose? […] Quebec cannot be on the sidelines.

More cranes in the sky

Instead, he wants to see “more cranes in Quebec's skies.” A vision that includes higher density and higher construction in appropriate sectors, he said on Tuesday. Quebec will host a forum on real estate development on February 21 where it wants to address the issue. Remember that the housing plan provides for the construction of 80,000 more houses by 2040.

The mayor recalled that the city wanted to speed up the issuance of building permits and find financing incentives for developers. “We want it to go fast.”

The noted slowdown in construction starts in 2023 is in the process of “catching up”, Mr. Marchant notes.

Opposition Leader Claude Villeneuve criticized the mayor for wearing “rose-colored glasses,” recalling that recent figures from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show a sharp 40% drop in housing starts in the census metropolitan area. of Quebec. “Projects are struggling to get off the ground in Quebec,” he laments.

Cost increases

Regarding the costs of transportation projects in Quebec's two largest cities, the mayor advises that there cannot be double standards. Environment Minister Benoit Charette recently confirmed Pres The project to extend the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro will be carried out at all costs, even if the cost is high. Mr. Marchant doesn't believe Montreal and Quebec have two-way treatment, but if it does, “they'll be asking us to go to the curbs,” he replied.