An expressway will soon open in downtown Montreal that will allow thousands of commuters to save transfer time between the Métro and REM, according to Place Bonaventure.
A passage initiated by CDPQ Infra before leaving in 2018, Currently blocked by locked doors. The journey will be simpler and simpler than the winding route currently imposed on passengers at the back of Central Station.
“We are in advanced discussions with REM and this situation will be resolved soon,” said Richard Hylands, owner of Place Bonaventure through his company Kevrick. “It should be very soon.” »
“CDPQ Infra is very willing to allow users in both directions,” Michelle LaMarche, director of media relations for CDPQ Infra, indicated via email. “However, we await the safety analysis that employers must carry out. CDPQ collaborates on infra analysis. Consumer safety is a non-negotiable for CDPQ Infra. »
A glimmer of hope
Earlier this week, commuters had a look of hope when an REM poster appeared next to the famous locked doors that separate Place Bonaventure from Central Station. But the next day she disappeared.
The sign was “put up to see if the signage would work” and “it does,” says Richard Hylands. It was withdrawn until a formal agreement was reached. “These signs were installed and removed by Place Bonaventure without notifying REM,” CDPQ Infra customer service wrote to a passenger who asked about the situation.
The expressway starts at the southern end of the REM platform at Central Station, passes through Place Bonaventure and follows a long straight corridor to Bonaventure Station. The writer of these lines completed this journey in 2 minutes 37 seconds, compared to 4 minutes 1 second on the official route through the central station, which is quite embarrassing.
Access to the route is difficult due to CDPQ infra decisions. With no signs pointing him in one direction, he comes across a locked door on the other side.
Initially, this route was to allow the transport of people with reduced mobility. By Friday, they must go outside to get from Metro to REM (and vice versa).
After publication of the article Press On the existence of the shortcut, last fall, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante called partners to find a solution to the matter.
“Everyone can easily get around in Montreal, regardless of their situation,” she wrote on social networks. We are continuing our discussions with CDPQ Infra and STM so that they can speed up their work to ensure universal access to REM. »
“We Think We're Fools”
At Trajectoire Quebec, which protects the interests of public transport users, General Director Sarah V. Doyon hopes to see the opening of the tunnel soon.
“Honestly, it's depressing to see how complicated something so simple can be. We were able to resolve all this in a meeting with the right stakeholders. Sit down, sort it out, because as consumers, we feel stupid and that makes us angry,” she said.
At this point, she lamented, the pedestrian path to REM is “difficult and long.” “We are not asking them to create a passage, but simply to open a door and put up a sign. The request is simple,” said Mme Doyan.
“Ultimately, it's humans who decide to complicate things. And once again, consumers are the first to suffer. It's a real shame,” she concluded.
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