Joseph Lalla

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

Almost 100 people came to Saint Monica’s Church last weekend for an info-session by the Terrebonne Neighbourhood Association, which opposes the Côte des Neiges–Notre Dame de Grâce plan for a Terrebonne bike path. Slated for implementation this summer, the plan eliminates 200-plus parking spaces, enforces existing restrictions near intersections and creates a two-way year-round bike path, making Terrebonne one-way east and one-way west from Cavendish.

• “The borough mayor said you were consulted and that the situation on Terrebonne is unbearable and dangerous,” said co-organizer Irwin Rapoport, eliciting laughter and shouts of “bullit!” Organizers say the plan affects residents, visitors, deliveries, home repairs and social services, and creates safety risks for children at Willingdon, St. Monica, Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton schools, and “traffic chaos and added congestion.”

Co-organizer and Terrebonne St. homeowner Valerie Kezsey said parking in front of her home was one reason she moved here, but it’s not about a spot in front: “I would like to be able to park my vehicle within a reasonable distance of my residence because I come home with groceries, I do animal rescues… So many people are so upset,” she said, not being consulted as “a resident, owner and taxpayer… to accommodate a small group of cyclists while inconveniencing residents, teachers, nurses and schools.”

Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz recalled the last Terrebonne path imposed without consultation was removed after angering residents, prompting complaints to Montreal’s ombudsman. A borough committee was then struck, producing a report and recommendation for a one-way Terrebonne with two bike lanes maintaining parking, Moroz saying the administration “only took the part they wanted… they say they consulted you for five years because there’s no definition of consultation.”

Committee member Yvonne Kiely felt betrayed. “In good faith we came up with a pilot project for Madison to Girouard on one side and left all parking,” which was more mindful of older residents with mobility issues. Fellow member Guylaine Cormier said a consensus was reached with a final report calling for a post-study follow-up. “That never happened,” and she was told the study and committee’s work was finished and “part of an old mandate. I was stunned. An election cancels all decisions taken?”

EMSB school commissioner Joseph Lalla insisted hundreds of daily employees “are going to have a major problem,” as “not only teachers but attendants, supervisors, and helpers have to find parking,” in addition to safety concerns during pick-up and drop-off.

Borough spokesperson Étienne Brunet told The Suburban there will be wider buffer zones and narrowed bike lanes near schools and drop-off areas, and the reconfiguration will reduce daily traffic from “the current 6,000 vehicles to 3,000 in the institutional sector.” As for contractor/mover parking, he said conditional permits may be issued depending on configuration in front of a residence, but “under no circumstances will we prevent a move from taking place due to a bicycle installation,” adding citizens are primarily responsible for obtaining permits, but contractors/movers can do so at the customer’s request.

Cormier remains incensed by the administration’s contention that consultation took place during the elections, since Projet Montréal was elected with a known bicycle mobility agenda. She told Mayor Gracia Katahwa at last November’s raucous information meeting to “stop taking us for imbeciles,” and last week urged residents to attend council, “be present and vote in November 2025.” Rapoport added “Projet Montréal has to understand, particularly Mayor Katahwa and (councillors) Peter McQueen and Despina Sourias, that they will not run roughshod over residents.”

Saint Monica parish member John Wilkinson said the church may have to reconstruct the driveway and entrances for funerals and weddings, eliminating a walking path and green space, “creating another animosity in the area.”

The association is holding a demonstration at William Hurst Park on Saturday, May 25 at 1 p.m. n