Terrebonne

EMSB wants Terrebonne bike paths removed for winter

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Despite Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa stating in a recent borough council meeting that the contentious bicycle paths on Terrebonne will not be removed for the winter even in the face of calls from many residents that it be removed, EMSB Chair Joe Ortona is not giving up. He has written a letter to the mayor asking her to remove the path. He has asked that the letter be tabled as a “public correspondence” at the next borough council meeting on December 2. The letter is effectively asking borough council to change its mind on the issue.

In his letter, Ortona says “a recent accident involving a school bus and a parent’s vehicle that occurred directly in front of St. Monica Elementary School” was “a direct result of the borough’s redesign of Terrebonne Avenue.”

Terrebonne used to be a two-way street. But earlier this year the borough decided to change the street’s configuration to one way in either direction away from Cavendish. And, of course, due to the bicycle paths on either side of the street, Terrebonne is now much narrower.

“The section in front of St. Monica Elementary,” Ortona writes, “is especially problematic, as pre-existing sidewalk extensions were left in place, further reducing the already constrained space for vehicular traffic. The road has become extraordinarily narrow, leaving insufficient room for vehicles to safely manoeuvre.”

He says the decision to leave the street as is throughout the winter “is both reckless and dismissive of the needs of children and families” and rather favours the ostensibly small number of cyclists that are likely to use the Terrebonne bike paths in the winter.

This is not the first time Ortona has written to borough council on the matter. He wrote back in February that the EMSB objected to the bicycle path, saying it would adversely affect pick-up and drop-off, parking for staff and parents, the safety of the students at St. Monica School, the Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton School, and Willingdon school. The principals of each had also written letters bolstering the school board’s complaints.

“The borough has failed to address these concerns,” Ortona says. “Our schools feel marginalized, as their needs have been overshadowed by the borough’s prioritization of the cycling community.”

Aside from the temporary removal of the bicycle paths, the EMSB is also asking for “the creation of a joint committee comprising EMSB specialists and borough traffic officials to collaboratively design safer conditions for the spring.”

The accident to which Ortona refers happened last month. A mother was getting back into her car after dropping off her child. The school bus, trying to navigate the now narrower street, hit her car door. “Thankfully, no one was seriously injured,” Ortona writes. But “the bus and the car sustained considerable damage, and the students onboard the bus were trapped for ten minutes due to the door being obstructed.” n

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NDG’s St.Monica’s endangered because of Terrebonne bicycle path

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

There have been no weddings or funerals at St. Monica’s Parish on Terrebonne in NDG for months. And the number of churchgoers has declined steadily since the summer. Blame the new bicycle paths installed on both sides of the street last July, say area residents, along with the new configuration of Terrebonne, formerly a two-way street, but now one way leading away from Cavendish Blvd in either direction.

A news conference was called last week by former city councillor Marvin Rotrand on behalf of a local community association, and school representatives. St. Monica’s Elementary School, across the street from the church, has also been affected, as has the OMHM — Habitations De Terrebonne at the corner of Benny. Borough councillor Sonny Moroz said teachers who work at the school, many of whom are not from the area, now have no place to park and are concerned about how their jobs may be affected. Public transit is not prioritized in the area, says Moroz, so it’s not a viable option.

Moroz is not the councillor for the area. He is the opposition councillor (and Rotrand’s successor) in Snowdon. Peter McQueen is, in fact, the Projet Montréal — Équipe Valérie Plante councillor for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. “Residents of the area feel, somehow, they can’t get their message across to their local councillor,” Rotrand said.

McQueen did not respond to an interview request from The Suburban.

Parish Warden Paul Wong pointed out that prior to the changes imposed by the city, there used to be five to eight weddings per season at St. Monica’s. But wedding parties and vehicles can no longer park in front of the church. Nor can funeral processions.

Regular church attendance is down by 30 to 50%, says Wong. “For a church that relies on collections and donations from its parishioners, it’s hurting.” The church is now at a financial deficit of $5,200. “If it continues this way, we could be easily $60,000 to $80,000 in debt by the end of the year.”

The church did reach out to the executive committee for help, to no avail.

Nora Kelly lives on Terrebonne near the corner of Cavendish. She talked about the detour that drivers now need to take to get around the reconfiguration of Terrebonne and rush hour congestion on Cavendish. “It has reduced the quality of life,” says Kelly. Valerie Keszey, a longtime Terrebonne resident, agrees, saying there is no longer ample parking. “I’m not against bike paths,” Keszey said, echoing Kelly and Moroz. “What we’re asking Projet Montréal to do is put in a bike path that works for everyone and maintains parking.”

Kelly says that the changes have increased safety risks for school students, despite the city’s contention to the contrary. Furthermore, Kelly says, suggestions from citizens as to how to better implement bike paths and decrease traffic on Terrebonne were ignored. Ironically, during the news conference, held outside the church, Moroz had to run out into the street to stop a motorist from turning right onto Terrebonne from Benny – the wrong way on a one-way street.

Moroz says there is no real or accurate information as to how many cyclists actually use the Terrebonne path. He has suggested to the borough that they remove the bike paths for the winter months and bring them back in the spring. They apparently have said they will only decide on that next month. But that, says Moroz, will be too late. n

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Opponents rally against bike path

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

The work schedule for the reconfiguration of Terrebonne has already been established, with the first phase transforming the road into one-ways heading east and west from Cavendish, (to Girouard and Coronation respectively), installing a two-lane bike path and removing parking from the north side, slated for the week of June 24.

The plan has been adopted and the work schedule pronounced, but that did not stop opponents from rallying against the scheme, which they have long contended was not adopted with consultation of residents affected and is being imposed on the neighborhood to serve a small minority. They further questioned the bicycle traffic data and methodology used to support the plan, which will ultimately result in some 300 less parking spaces on Terrebonne. One person noted that after 90 minutes on the corner, only 9 cyclists were seen on the roadway., prompting another to say “the 400 the borough claims all ride at 3 am!” to hoots of laughter.

Some 120 people rallied at William Hurst park on Saturday to voice their opposition to the plan, carrying signs and hearing speakers, including NDG school commissioner Joseph Lalla and Snowdon councilor Sonny Moroz, along with organizers who denounced the process as undemocratic, and promised to not let up the pressure to see the project stopped or reversed “until a real consultation” is held, said co-organizer Irwin Rapoport.

Several demonstrators spoke of the effects on different institutions, indicating that the city will not allow Saint-Monica’s church to transform part of their greenspace into parking, effectively forcing the church to dramatically alter its weddings and funeral practices.

Watched closely by two SPDM officers, the group was heckled frequently by passers-by on bicycles, with shouts of “bring on the path!” and “deal with it!” as well as one cyclist stopping to berate the protestors before she departed cursing at the crowd. Many motorists however, honked in support of the demonstration, including several city of Montreal vehicles, with one municipal employee telling The Suburban at the intersection, “downtown doesn’t care about any of these people.”

The work will continue in three phases: Cavendish to Coronation; Cavendish to Grand; and Grand to Girouard and is expected to last about a month. n

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“Betrayal”:Terrebonne bike path raises ire

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

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

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Terrebonne bike path gets rolling

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Ceausu

The long-debated Terrebonne redevelopment was approved by borough council in CDN-NDG, voting 3-2 to proceed. The $250,000 plan, paid for by the centre city, would install a 2.5-kilometer two-way path on Terrebonne, and turn the road into two-one way streets, heading west from Cavendish to Belmore and east from Cavendish to Girouard.

The borough will install bike lanes on both sides of the road; protected by bollards on the north side eliminating some 200 parking spaces and a lane on the south side protected by a buffer zone and the remaining parking lane.

The plan has divided the community and continues to do so, after opponents of the plan gathered more than 1,100 signatures on paper and electronic petitions demanding real consultation of affected residents. They cite numerous faults with the borough’s technical study, i.e., that observation was made on only a fraction of weekly traffic hours and not in winter, and that citizens were not consulted.

The administration, along with local cycling advocates, have long insisted that cyclists do not feel safe on Terrebonne, which has them sharing the roadway with vehicles with nothing other than some street markings indicating a bike route. The borough insists that installing a lane on Terrebonne will help more citizens adapt to active transit, protect vulnerable citizens — including many children attending schools in the area — and help fight climate change.

Borough documents also note the bike path will have a major impact on vehicle routes in the area, particularly the one-way redesigns, and suggests the plan is necessary to enforce existing laws: “The installation allows reinforcement of parking bans within five metres of intersections, in order to improve visibility” in addition to the number of parking spaces removed.

At council, Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa said the plan is not necessarily finalized, repeating what she told a crowd at Benny Library in December: “Even if we vote tonight there is still some time to make adjustments to this project” and noted there are several possible adjustments being considered. She added that here have been several discussions with the EMSB and Mackay school in particular and more discussions will be held to explore solutions for some particular challenges. “I know that change is scary,” she told the packed room, “but I’m listening to you and we’re going to do it together. The status quo,” she added, “is unbearable.”

Resident Nora Kelly, a member of the Residents against Terrebonne 2.0 group, stated before the meeting that “many people can’t believe that the Projet Montreal administration of the borough has brought back the bike path after it was removed in the summer of 2020 following a serious public outcry,” she said. “So many people have signed the petition and the anger is palpable. They are upset that there has been no consultation. They want the bike path plan cancelled immediately.”

Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz, who along with Darlington councillor Stephanie Valenzuela voted against the plan, deplored the dismissal of recommendations from the original working committee on Terrebonne.

The work, consisting mostly of street marking and signage, will be completed in June. n

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