Posted Feb 5, 2016, 2:55 PM
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More transit please
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Montreal
Posts: 3,794
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Quote:
Blue line extension: twice as expensive as planned
The extension of the blue line of the Montreal metro would cost almost $3 billion of public funds, more than twice what had evaluated the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) in 2013. Nevertheless, the addition of five stations to east to the Galeries d'Anjou is part of the priorities put forward by Quebec under the new federal infrastructure program.
This is not the first time we see such a gap between the project "study in" and when to enter the planning phase. The repair of the Turcot interchange would have cost $1.5 billion in theory, but the bill quickly climbed to $3.7 billion once the experts have sharpened their pencils.
According to information obtained by La Presse, the Ministry of Transportation has received in mid-January information on the content of the study of the AMT on the project. Ministry officials have revised the figures for the body to quickly see that it will in practice double the initial evaluation $1.535 billion - is visited $2.9 billion.
The AMT is currently revalidating its assessment with its partners, the STM, Infrastructure Québec and the Department of Transport, to file a final document to the government. Quebec must quickly renew the "reserves" that it had enacted to prevent new construction on land likely to receive stations.
Behind the scenes, it was explained that the project is ahead of the Government of Couillard's grocery list in its discussions with Ottawa. During the election campaign, the Justin Trudeau Liberals promised an investment in infrastructure of $125 billion over 10 years. Furthermore, public transport projects that reduce emissions will be favored by the federal government.
A priority for Montreal
Yesterday, at the end of a meeting with the federal government, along with the mayors of other cities, Denis Coderre has clearly pointed to the extension of the blue line as the most urgent decision from Montreal's point of view. The project would help revitalize the east of the city, which really needs it. "We have a lot of files. Three affecting urban mobility: the LRT to the West Island, the shuttle from the airport to the city center and the West train and finally the Champlain Bridge LRT. But the "first" priority is the blue line to the east, the subway, "said Mr. Coderre, outside the caucus of mayors of large cities, in the national capital yesterday.
Already at the time of Lucien Bouchard, Quebec had among his papers this segment of 5.8 km which should have five stations. The PQ government had prioritized Laval, an area where he hoped to maintain its political gains. In 2013, the STM and the Marois government had again pledged to move forward with a new segment east of the Saint-Michel station, but the work was never started. Other projects are in the running, the extension of the Yellow Line to the South Shore in particular, but they are far down the list of priorities of Quebec.
The Quebec infrastructure program is limited to around $9 billion a year, much of which must go to the maintenance of existing structures. There is no place for the "development" of new lines. This is where we put on the federal program that provides for such projects, co-financed equally between Ottawa and the provinces, says one in Quebec.
In a recent interview with the Globe and Mail, mayor Coderre emphasized the need to extend the blue line. "The east of Montreal really needs a subway extension," he expressed.
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Translated from:
http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/mo...-que-prevu.php
Last edited by SkahHigh; Feb 6, 2016 at 8:23 PM.
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