Djeneba Dosso

LJI Reporter

On June 27, the mayor was joined by ministers, councillors, MPs and STO representatives to

announce the receipt of $163.5 million toward the next phase of the Gatineau tramway project.

Of the large sum, the Government of Quebec has invested $98.1 million, covering 60 per cent of

the cost, with the remaining amount funded by the federal government. This next stage of the

first three-year phase will be focused on pre-drafting for the project office, which will conduct

environmental impact assessments, preparatory engineering work and reviews of preliminary

designs.

“This announcement shows once again that our government is continuing its work to offer its

population a Quebec that will always be greener, more prosperous and prouder,” said Suzanne

Tremblay, MP for Hull. “As we all know, projects like this one are not only important and

improve mobility, but they also contribute to economic development [and] reduce our

greenhouse gas emissions. So, I’m very, very proud to improve mobility here at home, in the

Outaouais region.”

While the funding allowed the project office to receive the green light to begin the planning

phase, the elephant in the room – Ontario – did not go unnoticed. The province next-door, who

has yet to invest in the project, accounts for 2 km, and two stops of the tramway line.

“To do that, of course, all the financing has to be secured; you all understand that I’m talking

about the Ontario portion of the project that must also be financed,” he said.

Nonetheless, the Outaouais plans to continue spearheading the project which will meet the

demand of its growing population, expected to reach a 73 per cent increase over the next 25

years.

“We’re expecting 100,000 new residents by 2050 in Aylmer, and our demographic projections for

the City of Gatineau in 2021 are at the levels we were expecting for 2031,” stated Maude

Marquis-Bissonnette, Gatineau mayor. “That’s how fast we’re growing and how much we need

this project — it’s not just a fad.”

The tramway which is projected to carry 30,000 daily passengers as soon as it comes in service

will be designed as an alternative to cars. Cheaper than a light rail and able to transport three

times more people than a Rapibus, the 100 per cent electric rapid transit will have a frequency of

3 to 6 minutes during rush hour and its own individual lane to avoid traffic jams.

“It’s not just a mode of transport for people going to work, it’s really for everyone, and it’s a

transformative project for our region in terms of transport,” added the mayor. “The STO is going to do just

that; it’s going to organize the feeder lines and the bus lines that are going to make it

easier to get to and from [destinations.]”

The STO’s task team, which is currently made up of 27 members, has a long to-do list before

reaching the completion of the pre-draft phase. This includes urban development studies around

the tramway corridor, travel and public transport in relation to active vehicles. In other words,

what’s going to happen on the roads surrounding the tramway in terms of street parking, vehicle

and bicycle lanes, sidewalks and green space. Their research will also target finding the right

location for stations and interchanging hubs in a way that benefits municipal services and local

residents. Additionally, studies on everything below the ground and the environmental impacts of

the project will be covered in collaboration with Hydro-Québec and Gassifère.

“So, as you can see, we’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Edmond Leclair, STO Vice-President

and representative for the City of Gatineau. “But we’ve also got a great team of professionals

who are going to get the job done. In fact, I think we were in a hurry to get the green light

today.”

Photo caption

Photo #1: The Gatineau tramway project will be entering its next phase following the receipt of

a $163.5 million investment from the federal and provincial governments. On Thursday,

Gatineau mayor, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette was joined by MPs, councillors, ministers and

STO representatives to announce the exciting news. Pictured from left to right: Mathieu

Lévesque, Robert Bussière, Steven MacKinnon, Mathieu Lacombe, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette,

Suzanne Tremblay, Sophie Chatel, Greg Fergus and Edmond Leclair. (DD) Photo: Djeneba

Dosso.