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(Source: Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain)
Plans for a tramway to augment public transportation between eastern portions of Montreal and Repentigny were announced this past week by Quebec’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault.
The current proposal for the public tramway project calls for a 38 km long system with 31 stations spread over two branches, running from the Rivière-des-Prairies sector to the green metro line, as well as from Repentigny to the green metro line. The projected price tag has been reported to be north of $18 billion.
Projet structurant de l’est (PSE) is the first project that will be within the mandate of Mobilité Infra Québec (MIQ), a new provincial agency for complex transportation infrastructure projects, but that has yet to be set up. Once operational, MIQ’s core purpose will be to conduct analysis, planning and implementation of projects, at the behest of the provincial government.
Until the agency is fully operational, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) will be responsible for launching the first stages of the tramway project, which the province says will be carried out in a collaborative manner. The ARTM will issue calls for tenders and work with experts in finance, law and engineering to oversee the project. It will then begin the process of identifying potential partners, including by publishing a call for interest this fall to gather market feedback on the planned strategy. These actions will be implemented in the coming months, allowing MIQ to take over as soon as it takes office.
“This is excellent news for our citizens in eastern Montreal and southern Lanaudière,” stated Guilbault. “The structuring project in the east has always been a priority for us, and today, we are taking another important step by confirming that it will be the first mandate entrusted to Mobilité Infra Québec when it is set up. In the meantime, I want the project to continue moving forward, which is why I am asking the ARTM to continue working to ensure the eventual transition to MIQ, by soliciting private partners on the market this fall.”
“Today marks a decisive turning point for mobility in Repentigny and throughout the eastern part of the metropolitan area. The PSE is becoming a reality, with a tramway that will serve our city and a terminus integrated into the redevelopment of our business park, a strategic asset for our economic growth and the quality of life of our citizens,” added Nicolas Dufour, mayor of Repentigny. “We applaud the commitment of the government of Québec and the ARTM, whose work will lay a solid foundation for the realization of this major project.”