REM light-rail line to go underground in downtown Montreal
There could be some major changes in the plans for the REM light-rail line in Montreal, as officials want a downtown portion of the line to go underground.
The Caisse de Depot, which is putting the project together, said Thursday that the downtown portion of the line heading east and north will include an underground tunnel beneath Rene-Levesque Blvd. from Robert Bourassa station to the intersection of Jeanne-Mance St./Rene-Levesque Blvd. intersection.
It's the newest adjustment to the REM de l'Est to avoid an elevated track all the way down the major Montreal artery.
Concerns have arisen that the tunnel is not long enough and that the Jeanne-Mance and Rene-Levesque intersection would be closed causing a major nuisance for drivers on the busy section of road.
Promotors of the project, however, see the tunnel as being a major bonus to maximize efficiency in the public transit systems.
"You can connect with every line of existing subway including the future REM," said Caisse president Jean-Marc Arbaud. "That's, I believe, the main advantage."
Studies were done on the feasibility of making the tunnel even longer, but concerns about cost and delays mean that's no longer on the table.
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante's administration wants to see more studies done.
"We have a lot of challenges for urban integration of the REM de l’Est," said executive committee member Eric Alan Caldwell. "Those studies, the effort that we must put to find other solution, to study them, to price them has to be done for all the REM de l’Est."
Many groups are concerned about the train's aesthetic appeal, and worry it could scar the city's image.
"I have to say we support the project but we are asking many questions about the urban integration," said Quebec Urban Planners Order's Sylvain Gariepy.
Gariepy isn't just worried about downtown, but also about other parts of the city like Sherbrooke and Notre-Dame streets.
"The structure will remain above ground and that is a concern for us," he said. "How will it look like, how will it impact the quality of life of the people that living on those streets?"
UQAM professor Nathalie Drouin is an expert in project management and said social acceptability is a key issue, but building a project that attracts people can help.
"What does it mean to build national pride," she said. "It means also having an innovative and very beautiful design. I’m not sure we’re there yet."
The project will be studied by Quebec's environmental review board in 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.