by Timothy Edward, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has announced redevelopment plans for Ste-Catherine West, which include making the street “calmer, safer and greener” via partial pedestrianization and urban landscaping.

Plante noted that the wear-and-tear of the street’s century-old infrastructure, as well as pedestrian and cyclist safety concerns and the impact of online shopping, have moved the city to re-imagine the heart of the downtown core.

“It’s time to open a new chapter in the history of this iconic artery. Our plan is to create a calmer, safer and greener street than ever, with a public pedestrian plaza and urban landscaping that will transform the experience for those who visit, work and live there.”

The areas to be pedestrianized will be named after downtown Montreal’s universities, known as Place McGill (between Robert-Bourassa and Mansfield) and Place Concordia (between Bishop and Guy). Work on Ste-Catherine between Peel and St-Marc is scheduled to pick up in April and be completed in the summer of 2025.

Critics, including city hall opposition Ensemble Montréal, have decried a lack of consultation in regards to this plan, though the city claims that workshops were held in 2022 and 2023 and that the plan was pushed forward due to popular demand — both from the public and the universities.

 Glenn Castanheira, the executive director of downtown business association Montréal Centre-Ville, insists that there was no consultation and wants the plan to be postponed until after next year’s municipal election.

“If Montrealers don’t feel listened to, neither do we. The business community feels lied to and cheated with this project.”