A new solution for the REM: Bypassing Sherbrooke East for 4.5 km, using railway land instead
A solution has been found to one of the holdout issues around Montreal's future rapid-transit line -- its route through the city's east end.
The REM was set to run along the main artery of Sherbrooke St., which both developers and local residents opposed.
But they had a counter-proposal that looks like it will work for 4.5 kilometres of the line. The new plan is to build it along the Souligny Railway route for that portion, running south of Sherbrooke before joining back up with the proposed route at the very eastern tip of the neighbourhood, at Georges-V Ave.
On Tuesday, the building corporation in charge of the line announced it made a deal with CN Rail on Dec. 30 and has secured an option to purchase a segment of this right-of-way.
This means the REM won't connect directly with the Honoré-Beaugrand station. But the new route will not only free up a commercial stretch of Sherbrooke St., it will also reach a new residential population, CDPQ Infra said.
"By bordering the Tétreaultville neighbourhood, the REM will be able to serve a substantial population pool lying farther away from the green line of the métro, reuse an existing railroad right-of-way, and incorporate the route into a broader transit corridor, thereby reducing impacts in this sector," CDPQ Infra said in a release.
"The neighbourhood is different, there’s a lot more room here, so that’s why we feel that the structure will feel less massive than if we were to install it on Sherbrooke -- definitely," the fund's vice-president, Christian Ducharme, told media.
The fund also says residents are happy with the idea.
"This corridor, because it's already a rail corridor, it's exploited -- they used to have a tramway here," said CDPQ Infra spokesperson Virginie Cousineau.
"So we think that some people see that that’s the real place to put a metro network here."
On Tuesday, some residents told CTV they didn't feel quite that way, and they think the line should be kept to the busier and more commercial areas.
"It’s going to be right in front of my door," said one local man, Ronald Daignault.
"It's not a good idea… it's unaesthetic, it's massive, it doesn’t belong in a neighbourhood where you live."
The line's new platform would be several metres high, similar to what's currently under construction in the west end of the ctiy.
Some are urging still more changes to the project, including at least one lawmaker who says it's already an eyesore.
"Anybody who goes on the road of the 40 can see this giant structure just beside it -- it's not very beautiful," said Quebec Solidaire MNA Alexandre Leduc.
The project's construction has already had its fair share of delays, from problems with location to soil issues, unexpected discoveries in the Mont-Royal Tunnel, and the pandemic.
All that has pushed the line's inauguration to fall 2022.
"We have to keep in mind that the REM is more than 300 workers, 30 work sites around Montreal," said REM spokesperson Jean-Vincent Lacroix.
"So of course the pandemic has an impact on activities."
Construction on the eastern section is still years away, and more meetings and consultations are in the works, with residents given another chance to voice their reactions to the new plans.
Whichever route is chosen, officials say residents in the east end will be able to get downtown in about 30 minutes on it.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Terrifying': Manitoba resident speaks on wildfire and evacuation
As a pair of wildfires burn near Flin Flon and The Pas, a number of Manitobans are being told to evacuate their homes.
Canucks' Zadorov fined $5,000 for post-game crosscheck on Oilers' McDavid
A Vancouver Canucks defenceman has been given the highest possible fine under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement after a scrum broke out at the end of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.
Steve Buscemi punched in the face while walking in N.Y.C.
Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi has been treated for injuries after being punched in the face while walking in New York City.
DEVELOPING Michael Cohen takes the stand as testimony in Trump hush money case enters 4th week
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Jerry Seinfeld speech prompts pro-Palestinian demonstration at U.S. university graduation ceremony
A tiny contingent of Duke University graduates opposed pro-Israel comedian Jerry Seinfeld speaking at their commencement in North Carolina Sunday, with about 30 of the 7,000 students leaving their seats and chanting "free Palestine" amid a mix of boos and cheers.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
opinion Harry and Meghan's Nigerian adventure: Traditional attire to warm welcomes
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.