Government of Canada Invests More Than C$1.1B in Two Major Quebec Infrastructure Projects
These two major projects, the Government of Canada says, “will improve mobility in Quebec City and the Montreal metropolitan area, promote sustainable mobility, support urban and economic development, and consolidate the public transit network in these two major Quebec cities. They will also help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and thus strengthen climate resilience.”
Quebec City Tramway (TramCité)
This project involves the construction of a 19-kilometer (11.8-mile) 100% electric tramway line, including approximately 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) underground. Work includes the universally accessible construction of 29 stations, five interchanges, two park-and-ride facilities, an operations and maintenance center, two centralized control stations, a fleet of around 30 cars and related works, including the construction or modification of engineering structures, as well as landscaping and the installation of street furniture. The vehicles will be powered by a hybrid overhead contact line and batteries.
A federal contribution of more than $1.1 billion had already been approved in July 2019. The Government of Canada is increasing its contribution to the project by C$332.3 million for a total federal contribution of more than C$1.4 billion.
Montréal Metro Blue Line Extension
The project includes five new metro stations in a tunnel spanning some six kilometers (3.7 miles), two bus terminals, an underground pedestrian tunnel, a mezzanine pedestrian link and various operational infrastructure elements. Commissioning of these metro stations is scheduled for 2031.
The federal government had initially committed to contribute more than C$1.3 billion to the Blue Line extension project. On March 22, the federal government announced that it will increase its contribution to the project by more than C$650 million to just more than C$1.9 billion.
In addition, the federal government is also announcing an investment of C$202.8 million in the train control system project, which will replace the current fixed block train control system with a technology-based system for the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) entire Montréal Metro Blue Line, including its extension.
More information on the project is available here.
“Our government believes in public transit. We are committed to improving and expanding public transit infrastructure across Canada. Close collaboration between federal, provincial and municipal governments is essential to achieving this goal,” said Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.
