JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West
The plan to build a long demanded new north-south boulevard in the West Island but restricting regular vehicle traffic from using it has left some West Island mayors shaking their heads.
In fact, as traffic snarls the lanes of St. Jean and St. Charles boulevards well beyond traditional rush-hour periods, one mayor claims the recent announcement by the city of Montreal for the new artery defies the “West Island reality.”
The new boulevard is set to run from Antoine-Faucon Street in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, west of St. Charles Boulevard, to Ste. Marie Road in Kirkland where a REM station is under construction. The new 1.5-kilometre route will be open to public transit, pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles only. The roadway is expected to cost about $60 million and is projected to be completed by 2027.
“It’s incredible to me,” responded an exasperated Jim Beis, the borough mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
See NEW ROAD, Page 2.
NEW ROAD: Restricting its use defies ‘W.I. reality’
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“To spend $60 million when we know that the city is struggling financially, when we have other priorities, and you’re imposing something in my community that’s not wanted, it’s incredible to me,” Beis told The 1510 West.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has said that this new initiative would encourage West Island residents to opt for public transit, a more environmentally friendly option to taking their cars. Montreal city council approved a $20-million loan bylaw in January to allow construction to proceed.
Beis has been vocal with his objections to the project. He says restricting regular vehicle traffic from using the new road is illogical in a highly residential area where public transit is not as accessible as in the city.
He pointed out the fact that Antoine-Faucon is “a dead-end street. A quiet area. And now all of a sudden, you’re proposing to have a transit link that would take you to the train station. And not allow for any vehicles.”
Ste. Anne de Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa agrees that denying regular motorists access to this new traffic corridor does not reflect the “West Island reality.”
Hawa explained that most neighbourhoods in the West Island were not developed to match the reality of the densely populated areas in Montreal’s downtown.
“The way the West Island developed over time means that it’s very car-centric,” Hawa said, adding that regular day-to-day commutes without the use of a car is not realistic for most area residents.
However, their views on the new project are not unanimous among West Island mayors.
Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson says the plan for the new artery is “on the right track” given the local infrastructure.
“I have nothing against what’s going on right now,” he told The 1510 West. “We need the proper infrastructure to basically accept cars. And eventually we’ll have cars. But for now, the infrastructure doesn’t permit it.
“For now, the realistic thing to do is to be patient,” he added.
Both Beis and Hawa say they are in favour of climate-conscious measures, like promoting public transit. But both take issue with the City of Montreal and the Société de transport de Montréal making unilateral decisions affecting West Island communities without consulting local elected officials.
“This case is a perfect example of them imposing their will on a community where we haven’t even been brought to the table to discuss and negotiate, or even explain the necessity of having something like this occupy that space,” said Beis. According to Hawa, no West Island mayors to date has been invited to discuss new bus routes with the transit authority. If the buses are not strategically routed to facilitate access for suburban residents looking to get to the REM, Hawa added, “most probably (people) will say ‘to hell with it, I’m taking my car.’ ”