LYON | The mayor of Quebec does not want to be distracted by the debate about the third connection – bridge or tunnel – reignited by the Legault government. As for the tram, “we continue,” he says, as we approach two new demolition works related to the transport project, the preparatory phase of which is already advanced.
• Also read: The city of Quebec swears that the tram is “a reality”.
• Also read: The resurrection of the third connection could harm the tram, fears Bruno Marchand
As soon as he arrived in Europe, Bruno Marchand reaffirmed his commitment to the tram for a ten-day mission. On Thursday, he expressed concern about important projects in Quebec and returned to the third link portrait revived by the CAQ.
He feared that major projects such as the tram, phase four of the Samuel De Champlain Promenade or the transformation of highways into urban boulevards would be put on hold to consider the government’s mega-project between the rivers.
However, this does not prevent the city from preparing to build the tram. “The rest of us carry on,” he says. The Journal wrote Saturday that the streetcar faces two demolitions. They will follow two others created in 2022. This process is continuing to progress, said the mayor.
The tram, the big project
“Because if we don’t keep going, we’ll start slowing everything down. When will we stop slowing down? Are we waiting for the government to complete consultations on a major project? When we say we need a major project for the Quebec region, we have one, a major project, and that is the tram.”
Mr Marchand believes we can consider expanding the project beyond its original scope.
“If we have something to build, this is it. It is the tram that is ready for delivery.” He recalls that Federal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has confirmed it: the money planned for this project will be available when we do give up, flow somewhere else.
Recall that as of June 30, $341.1 million had already been spent on planning, activities and preparatory work for the tram. To date, the government has approved $924.6 million in spending.
Bridge or tunnel?
As for the idea of a new bridge that Prime Minister François Legault has launched in recent days, the mayor assures that the city of Quebec has never heard of it in the discussions it has had with the government on the subject. of the third link.
Whether it’s a tunnel or a bridge, analyzing these projects takes a lot of time, “months or years,” he notes. Several studies will be required: geological, ecological, technical, logistical and urban studies.
“We proclaim our pious desire to consult. We don’t know how, we don’t know when, we don’t know at what level. We don’t know what level of detail we can provide. The tram can hardly wait. If we say that the tram has to wait, it’s a slap in the face.”
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