No cars allowed on urban boulevard leading to future Kirkland REM station
A West Island mayor is speaking out against Montreal's decision to ban cars from the new urban boulevard leading up to the future REM station in Kirkland.
Montreal City Council approved a $20-million loan bylaw Tuesday that will allow construction to proceed on an access road to the station, running from Antoine-Faucon Street in Pierrefonds-Roxboro to Ste-Marie Road in Kirkland.
In a decision made by Valerie Plante's administration, only bikes and buses will have access to the new street.
But Pierrefonds-Roxboro mayor Jim Beis says it's not practical, arguing the move doesn't respond to the realities of the community.
"We are for all means of transportation, and we believe in giving folks the option with what makes sense in an area, where it involves the local community," Beis told CTV News in an interview Wednesday. "We as a local community have never, and will not be heard by this administration."
The $60 million project is a north-south artery that has been in the works for years, long before the REM was part of the equation.
"After this long bylaw that passed at council this week, I am furious. Because, again, we're spending a lot of money, many millions, tens of millions of dollars, for something that isn't really wanted by the local community," said Beis.
At one point, the land was reserved by the provincial government for an extension of Highway 440, but the project was ultimately scrapped.
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante says her administration's goal is to connect to an eventual urban park that's planned for the West Island.
"That road will be something to access, essentially, the park. And there will be buses, because that's important -- we want for the last kilometre from the REM, for example, that people can access it with other types of public transit," Plante told reporters Wednesday.
Work on the new urban boulevard is slated to start this year and is expected to be completed in 2027.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6970476.1721410082!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
The CrowdStrike outage is affecting health-care services in Canada. Here's what you need to know
A global technology outage that's grounded flights and delayed border crossings is also challenging health-care services in the country, as issues with Microsoft services persist.
Quebec woman's death warns of dangers of cosmetic surgery abroad
Brian McConnell's daughter, Florence McConnell, died after a liposuction surgery complication in Morocco. Now, he warns others against undergoing cosmetic surgeries abroad.
Interior residents get ready to flee as B.C. fire tally soars past 300
The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in British Columbia's southern Interior has more than doubled in size due to what the wildfire service describes as "significant overnight growth" and more accurate mapping.
Polar bear 'Baffin' dies at Calgary Zoo after not resurfacing from pool
A polar bear died in its enclosure at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on Friday.
'I feel cheated': Here are the products hit hardest by shrinkflation
Canadians who feel like they are getting less bang for their buck at the grocery store these days might be right. A new report shows the effects of shrinkflation are real.
Tentative deal to end LCBO strike on hold as province accuses union of introducing new demands
The LCBO strike appears to be back on just hours after a tentative agreement was announced.
Woman guilty of murdering, dismembering boyfriend in Nanaimo, B.C.
A 28-year-old British Columbia woman has been found guilty of killing and dismembering her boyfriend on Vancouver Island nearly four years ago.
opinion Trump's assassination attempt not a political winner
Danger and fear are so pervasive throughout the national political ethos it is now the norm, writes Washington political columnist Eric Ham.
What a Donald Trump presidency means for Canada
The most striking thing about walking the floor of the Republican National Convention (RNC) is seeing just how much this is Donald Trump's party, CTV News' Vassy Kapelos says.