Quebec and Montreal have control over the REM de l’Est project, an abandoned downtown section

In response to many criticisms, the Quebec government is taking control of the Eastern Metropolitan Express Network (REM) project along with the city of Montreal. Section Downtown will also be omitted.

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The two work with the Society de Transport de Montreal (STM) as well as the Autorité regionale de transport metropolitain (ARTM) to finalize the plan and design of the project.

Until then, it had been developed by the Caisse de depot et placement du Québec (CDPQ).

“However, despite the number of programs coming forward in recent months, there is a lack of social acceptance for some sectors,” the statement said.

In the new version that will be kept, the section in the city center will be removed from the REM de l’Est. Its branches are located to the north and east of the metropolis.

Last March, the CDPQ Infra Plant announced that it was suspending the project without clear support from the administration. The latter responded by asking Kaisse to decide “clearly and openly” whether or not to cooperate with the city.

Since her re-election, Mayor Valerie Plante has sought to place the city on the decisive table so that she can be in the project. A request by CDPQ Infra was repeatedly rejected, assuming that the city’s participation in the various advisory committees was adequate.

During the election campaign, Ms. Plante promised to invest $ 500 million to review urban development and better integrate REM’s into the landscape of the metropolis.

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Although it is losing control of the REM de l’Est project, CDPQ Infra is still responsible for REM de l’Ouest, whose first branch will be launched in the fall.

Reviews

Since its announcement, the REM de l’Est project has caused a great deal of controversy due to its aerial route, which, in the eyes of many groups, has distorted the downtown area of ​​the metropolis.

The task force in Chinatown condemned the project, believing it would have a number of negative consequences for the sector.

In Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, many citizens also oppose the air route, as it is very close to residential areas and passes near Morgan Park, a place of heritage value.

The Society de Transport de Montreal (STM) also criticized the REM de l’Est project, with an internal note that QMI could obtain.

Accordingly, many prospective customers are already using public transit and REM is cannibalizing existing infrastructure. She also calculated that the city’s expected operating costs would skyrocket.

The Regional Metropolitan Transport Authority (ARTM) also unveiled the outline of a report which concluded that the Eastern REM would cause a number of inconveniences and that other options should be considered in line with the resolutions reached with the STM.

Exo, which runs the commuter train network, also raised its own concerns during an outing last February.