On July 4th , 2019 Canada’s Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau, joined by Mayor Valerie Plante, the Quebec Junior Transport Minister
and Minister Responsible for Montreal, Chantal Rouleau and Minister of Canadian
Heritage Pablo Rodriguez, announced that more than EUR887.1 million ( CAD1.3 bn/USD1
bn) will be invested in the EUR2.66bn (CAD3.9 bn/USD2.98 bn) Blue Line
extension project. This funding will be met through the public transit
component of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan. The Plan allows the
federal government to invest more EUR122.83 bn (CAD180 bn/USD137.73 bn) over 12
years in public transit projects, green and social infrastructure, trade and
transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
The extension eastward of the Blue Line in Montreal will
include:
- a 5.8 km tunnel from the
Saint-Michel station to the Anjou station, with the 5 new stations Pie-IX,
Viau, Lacordaire, Langelier and Galeries Anjou along Jean-Talon Street, just
south of the Metropolitan Expressway, next to Highway 25
- an
underground garage
- service centres
and auxiliary structures,
- 2 bus
terminals
- 1 underground pedestrian tunnel
providing a link to the future Pie-IX BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line, which is
still under construction.
- 1
park-and-ride lot with 1,200 spaces
- fixed equipment (track, systems
related to traction power, train controls and telecommunications as well as
motorized facilities such as elevators, escalators, fans and pumps).
Since the fall of 2017, with involvement from the Ministere
des Transports du Quebec, the Societe Quebecoise des infrastructures and the Autorite
Regionale de transport Metropolitain, the main activities carried out have
aimed to optimize the project’s key parameters and analyse potential
implementation methods. The master
timetable has been created along with the projects budget framework and the
phasing of its approvals.
The Government of Quebec has authorized the Societe de
transport de Montreal (STM) to work to complete the preliminary steps, prior to
the approval of the business case scheduled for autumn 2020, in order to ensure
compliance with the scheduled deadlines, including the start of construction
for winter 2021 and opening in autumn 2026.
STM is currently conducting geotechnical tests along the
corridor between Saint-Michel metro station and Highway 25 in Anjou. The
purpose of these tests is to classify the rock in the targeted area as part of
the collection of geotechnical data for the construction of the underground
tunnel and stations. The tests comprise two major phases: seismic surveys and
boring tests.
This fall, the STM will also implement consultation
mechanisms with groups, associations and organizations in the area ahead of the
public consultations in winter 2020.
Visit https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca
and http://www.stm.info/en/about/major_projects/blue-line-extension.
29/19.
