Canada/Longueuil: Taschereau Boulevard for "all means of travel
On Monday, the mayors of Longueuil and Brossard unveiled their vision for the redevelopment of boulevard Taschereau, which would leave more room for public and active transportation.
The centerpiece of the project: a bus rapid transit (BRT) line linking the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke terminus of the Montreal metro's yellow line with the REM's Panama terminus in Brossard.
Speaking at an event organized by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de la Rive-Sud, Longueuil mayor Catherine Fournier described the current boulevard Taschereau as an urban fracture with enormous potential.
She now wishes to transform this artery, which has three lanes of automobile traffic in both directions, into a traffic axis that also accommodates cyclists, pedestrians and buses.
Brossard mayor Doreen Assaad has promised a boulevard for all means of travel.
The addition of reserved bus lanes, bicycle paths, protected sidewalks and green spaces would force the removal of car lanes, although their number has yet to be revealed.
The two cities are also considering the creation of new neighborhoods along the route, in addition to the revitalization of several commercial spaces.
A project still in its infancy
The redevelopment project is still at the planning stage, although the two cities, in conjunction with the province, say they have been working on the initiative for two and a half years.
No timetable has yet been set.
Our first step was to demonstrate that we have a shared vision between the two cities for a green, urban, livable boulevard that connects two fairly important living environments," says Mayor Assaad.
Several projects to upgrade boulevard Taschereau have been abandoned in the past. In 2024, for example, CDPQ Infra abandoned a structuring project along the boulevard's axis.
This time, the two mayors promise, it will be the first time that Longueuil and Brossard have shared a common vision for the project.
Mme Fournier also considers the project presented to be reasonable and realistic. The creation of dedicated bus lanes is, in her opinion, a transit solution that could be implemented quickly and affordably.
The facilities could be converted to accommodate a tramway.
Mobilité Infra Québec, prime contractor
Longueuil and Brossard intend to entrust the reins of the project to the Mobilité Infra Québec agency, created last December by the Quebec government.
According to Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault, the Taschereau Boulevard project is a perfect example of the need for a dedicated team to build complex public transport infrastructures.
In recent days, Renée Amilcar and Ann MacDonald have been appointed to head the agency, which is due to start taking on projects in the coming months.
Mayors Fournier and Assaad also expect Quebec City to contribute financially to the project, although this has yet to be determined.
We're really not at the stage of putting together the financial package," says Minister Guilbault, who nonetheless expects the federal government to make a contribution as well.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
