Budget Leitao 2018: the blur persists around the blue line of the metro

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No timeline is provided for the extension of the blue line in Montreal. Quebec and Ottawa are negotiating the issue of the sharing of the costs before you commit. In addition, the budget makes no mention of the pink line desired by the mayor.

Annabelle Blais

Tuesday, 27 march 2018 23:09

UPDATE
Tuesday, 27 march 2018 23:09

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QUEBEC | Even if the proposed extension of the blue line of the Montreal metro (subway) is found once more in the provincial budget, no firm commitment has been entered as to the amounts that the government is willing to pay and no timeline is provided.

The budget states that the extension of 5.8 km on the blue line of the Montreal metro, five stops to the borough of Anjou, is evaluated by the different partners in a $ 3.9 billion $.

In margin of the presentation of the budget, the Transport minister, André Fortin, has stated that negotiations are on the point of conclude with Ottawa on sharing the cost.

Quebec has already placed money in reserve, the minister added, but no funding commitment is not put on paper.

“We know the envelope, but we do not know the details, so can’t wait to see the announcement, reacted to the mayor of Montréal, Valérie Plant. I imagine that it is imminent, where we will have all the details related to this new. “

Sustainable mobility

She is pleased that the government has expressed its intention to invest $ 3.5 billion over the next five years for projects that promote sustainable mobility.

Philippe Cousineau Morin, director of the association Path for the collective transport, is concerned that the in-service date is missing from the planning.

“It’s been a very long time as expected and in the past year, the budget was about the start of construction in 2021 for a commissioning in 2025 and it has disappeared this year,” he said.

For its part, the mayor has not wanted to come forward about the financial participation of the City or on a schedule.

“We will wait to see the project. Even I have not seen it “, she responded.

The association Path points out that the budget includes interesting investments in public transit, in the amount of 845 Million over five years for the province as a whole.

Highway 19

Among the other projects in the planning stage in the region of Montreal, but of which the envelopes have not been confirmed, we find the extension of highway 19 between 440 and 640 in Bois-des-Filio, in the Laurentians.

“In all projects, it is a point on which I have a certain flat. It has always been in favour of an urban boulevard rather than a freeway, ” said Ms. Plant.

– With the collaboration of Sarah Daoust-Braun, QMI Agency

Other measures for Montreal

• $ 75 Million for the rehabilitation of land contaminated

• $ 65 Million over 5 years for the improvement of walking and cycling networks

• $ 12 Million to support the City of Montréal, the integration and francization of immigrants, and$ 6.6 Million for the organization Montreal international in order to attract immigrants

• $ 5 Million for pilot projects for the use of autonomous vehicles electrical systems to improve access to public transport