Published February 9, 2024

Chelsey St. Pierre – The Suburban LJI Reporter

Pierrefonds-Roxboro mayor, Jim Beis has taken a strong stance against the City of Montreal’s decision to ban cars from the new urban boulevard leading up to the REM station, currently under construction, in Kirkland. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante says her administration’s goal is to connect the road to an eventual urban park that her administration planned for the West Island.

“After decades of planning by the community and with the REM coming, this was the perfect opportunity, that was ruined. They (the Plante administration) completely disregarded the work of the community and decided to throw this into her bike path plan,” Beis told The Suburban. “We are not against alternate modes of transportation, but the reality for many residents is that they need their vehicles to reach public transit access points.”

The $60 million north-south artery has been in talks for decades to relieve traffic congestion as the growing West Island population still only has three main north-south arteries to choose from. The REM became part of the discussions and it parallels with Highway 40 at the center of the North-South split. In 2018, the Provincial government approved the community’s proposal.

In 2018, the Plante administration took a sharp turn and decided that the road would not be accessible to drivers and will be exclusive to bikes and public transport, which comes as a shock to locals.

“What does this look like for the average West Island family? Well I drop off my 3 kids to school or transport pick up points and then I return home and pick up my husband, who cannot travel by public transport, to bring him to work,” West Island resident, Marisa C., told The Suburban. “Most families operate the same way. How are they supposed to reach public transit departure points without a car? And is she (Valerie Plante) aware that the West Island experiences winter like the rest of Quebec?”

The $20-million loan bylaw that will enable construction to begin on a road to the station slated to connect to an urban park, was approved by Montreal city councilors last Tuesday.

Plante boasted about how the park would be the largest public park in Quebec and how important it is to this plan. “That road will be something to access, essentially, the park. And there will be buses, because that’s important. We want for the last kilometer from the REM, for example, that people can access it with other types of public transit,” Plante stated at a press gathering last Wednesday.

The road will be paved from Antoine-Faucon Street in Pierrefonds-Roxboro to Sainte-Marie Road in Kirkland.

Beis says the City’s plan for the West Island is inconsiderate and impractical as it does not respond to the realities of the community. “This demonstrates the lack of understanding of reality where 80% of West Island residents need their vehicle,” he said. “It is a lack of respect for the community.”

According to Beis, the Quebec government is also “out of touch” with the community. “Why are they consulting with the Montreal mayor about the West Island?” he asks. “The needs of the community are not included in this proposal.” n

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