With two tram projects in the works in Montreal, Mayor Marchand fears Quebec is being neglected, warning that his city cannot remain without structuring transport and risks developers choosing the metropolis over the capital.
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“If we stand on the sidelines while others are moving forward, it definitely hurts us. This is currently not the case and a decision has not yet been made. We will talk about it again in due course.”
Bruno Marchand is closely monitoring what is being prepared at the other end of the 20th century. In recent weeks, Montreal media have revealed that two tram projects are in the pipeline for the Regional Metropolitan Transport Agency (ARTM): one to replace the eastern REM and another in the southwest sector. So far, the Legault government has not taken a position on these two projects, but Quebec's mayor is keen to know where it all fits.
“We will wait and see how the government reacts. This is a suggestion from ARTM. Montreal can and must evolve, but Quebec must evolve too.”
The Quebec tram project is in “slowdown mode” due to the decision of the Legault government that entrusted new considerations on transport to the Caisse de dépôt etplacement du Québec Infra, while the development of the project structures in Montreal brings “vitality”. , analyzes the mayor.
“Put yourself in the shoes of a real estate developer. Which one do you choose if you have land in Montreal and land in Quebec? […] Quebec cannot stand aside.”
More cranes in the sky
On the contrary, he wants to see “more cranes in the skies of Quebec.” A vision that envisages more densification and higher development in suitable sectors, he said on Tuesday. Quebec will also hold a real estate development forum on February 21 to address the issue. Remember that the housing vision calls for the construction of 80,000 more homes by 2040.
The city wants to speed up the issuance of building permits and create financial incentives for developers, the mayor remembers. “We want it to go faster.”
The slowdown in construction starts noted in 2023 will be “made up,” says Mr. Marchand, confident that the situation will stabilize.
Cost overruns
When it comes to the cost of transportation projects in Quebec's two largest cities, the mayor points out that there can be no double standards. Environment Minister Benoit Charette recently told La Presse that the project to extend the Montreal subway's blue line will be carried out at any cost, even if there are cost overruns. “If that’s the case, they’ll hear us going to the barricades,” Mr. Marchand responded.