by Timothy Edward, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Given the fact that, as Montreal city councillor Alia Hassan-Cournol puts it, “pedestrianized streets are now part of Montreal’s DNA,” the city is investing $12-million in the seasonal transformation of nine streets into pedestrian-only zones through 2027.
This investment is a renewal of the funding that City Hall set aside for the pedestrianization of Montreal commercial arteries in 2022, which also covered a three-year period.
The streets that were selected are the most successful pedestrianization projects, which will no longer need to re-qualify annually for funding.
The funding ceiling for pedestrian streets is also increasing from $375,000 to $700,000, and Mont-Royal Avenue and Wellington and Ontario streets will boost their budgets accordingly in 2025.
Montreal’s pedestrian-only streets that have been renewed through 2027 are as follows:
- Mont-Royal From St-Laurent to St-Denis, St-Denis to de Lorimier
- Wellington From 6th Avenue to Régina
- Ste-Catherine From St-Hubert to Papineau
- Ontario E. From Pie-IX to Darling
- Duluth E. From St-Laurent to St-Hubert
- St-Denis (as well as Emery Street) From Sherbrooke to de Maisonneuve
- Bernard From Wiseman to Bloomfield
- De Castelnau E. From St-Denis to de Gaspé
- Plaza St-Hubert From Bellechasse to Jean-Talon