A structured public transportation network is vital for the Greater South West region.
Let's Talk Tramway Drama
Looks like the city of Montreal is in for a heated debate over a missing tram project. Here's the lowdown:
The Greater Southwest, a bustling sub-region of Montreal Island, is primed for expansion with over 434,000 inhabitants and a plethora of real estate projects on the horizon. However, with up to 75% of trips in the area made by car, it's clear we need a change of pace. Desperate for an environmentally friendly alternative to solo driving, the Metropolitan Regional Transport Authority (ARTM) launched a study in 2022 to create a structuring public transit project between the Greater Southwest and downtown Montreal.
Trams were identified as the best solution to tackle the region's congestion issues. With 400 cities worldwide already embracing the mode of transport, trams are recognized for their capacity to transport thousands of passengers, accessibility, comfort, and their neighborhood-revitalizing effects—more so than simple bus lines or rapid bus service.
So, what's the hold-up? Citizens, organizations, and economic actors eagerly awaiting news about this project were left in shock when the structure plan was mysteriously removed from the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI) during the provincial budget deposit in March. With the ARTM's feasibility study due to be made public by June 2025, questions about Quebec's mobility intentions remain unanswered.
Considering the promised $800 million for sustainable mobility, promoters are left wondering if derelict lots set for housing construction will be sacrificed for more parking due to the lack of credible mobility solutions. The Legislature government's unilateral and secretive decision raises some serious queries regarding Quebec's commitment to addressing the Greater Southwest's growing mobility needs and prioritizing citizens' quality of life in the metropolitan region.
The crisis has led dozens of influential figures, including Maja Vodanovic—the Mayor of Lachine, Quebec's Minister of the Metropolis, Christine Frechette—to call for the project's reinstatement in the PQI and a new timeline for enactment.
While we wait for official statements, let's hope that Montreal doesn't let its innovative spirit die on the tracks. Time will tell if the city will commit to providing its citizens with the modern, structuring, and sustainable mobility solutions they desperately need.
Signatories:- Maja Vodanovic, Mayor of Lachine, member of the Executive Committee of Montreal- Marc Doret, Mayor of Dorval- Marie-Claude Dauray, General Director, PME MTL Grand Sud-Ouest- Charles Frenette-Cyr, President, Imagine Lachine-Est- Jean-François Lefebvre, Lecturer in Urban Studies, UQAM- Henri Chevalier, General Director, CDEC LaSalle-Lachine- Claude Lavoie, General Director, Table de développement social de LaSalle- Alena Ziuleva, Executive Director, Table de quartier Sud de l'Ouest de l'Ile- Anne-Marie Lelievre, General Director, Chambre de commerce de Montreal Centre Sud Ouest- Karl Janelle, President, Coalition climat Montreal- Blaise Remillard, Interim General Director, Conseil régional de l’environnement de Montréal- Pauline Robert, General Director, Coop Carbone- Philippe Jacques, Co-General Director, Trajectoire Quebec- François Geoffroy, General Coordinator, Travailleuses et travailleurs pour la justice climatique- Katherine Massam, Secretary General, Regroupement Vigilance Energie Quebec- Danielle Demers, Les Amis de la Chicot de Saint-Cuthbert- Lucie Masse, Spokesperson, AEBL (Action Environnement Basses-Laurentides)- Nathalie Ainsley, Co-coordinator of Mères au front Montreal- Myriam Grondin, General Director, Concert'Action Lachine- Nathalie Robitaille, General Director, PME MTL Ouest-de-l’Ile.
Speak up! Join the dialogue
Sources:- [1] Electric buses on every street within 20 years. (2022, February 23). Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/electric-buses-on-every-street-within-20-years- [2] Favier, S., & King, C. R. (2019). The impact of bus rapid transit on property values: Evidence from Boston. Journal of Public Transportation, 22(3), 220–232. https://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.1127- [3] Transport Quebec. (2023). News releases. https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/actualites/- [4] Plan a venir: Le référendum sur la expansion de l’A-30. (2023, April 25). Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/plan-a-venir-le-referendum-sur-laxpansion-de-l-a-30- [5] Quebec government unveils infrastructure plan. (2022, April 28). Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/news/qc-government-unveils-infrastructure-plan
In the midst of this tramway debate, concerns about Quebec's financial support for sustainable mobility solutions, such as the transport sector, are being raised. As the ARTM's feasibility study approaches its release in June 2025, questions persist about Quebec's commitment to revitalizing transportation in the Greater Southwest sector of Montreal and improving the quality of life for its citizens. The removal of the tram project structure plan from the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI) has reignited discussions among economic actors, citizens, and industry leaders like Mayor Maja Vodanovic and Quebec's Minister of the Metropolis, Christine Frechette.
