No bidders have come forward for the construction of the Quebec tram. Expected to cost $12 billion to $13 billion, well above the city’s estimated range, the last consortium in the race decided to withdraw. Mayor Marchand launches his Plan B to do the work in-house at a cost of $8.4 billion.
• Also read: $12 billion to $13 billion for Quebec’s tram system
In a highly anticipated press conference on Wednesday morning, Quebec Mayor Bruno Marchand, in the presence of his entire political team and the director of the project office, Daniel Genest, confirmed the Journal’s information published on Tuesday, according to which the estimated bill for the tram in Quebec has tripled and now stands at $12-13 billion compared to the last known estimate of $4 billion.
A first consortium withdrew a year ago. Only one consortium remained in the running, Capital Mobility, which had recently awarded this area to the city, the mayor confirmed.
“The status of our discussions has led us to believe that it is likely that we are at $12.13 billion.”
But mainly due to the “financing conditions,” he decided to withdraw the application before submitting it. The mayor therefore ended the award process on Tuesday. “It made no sense to drag the process into a dead end.”
But he says he is still committed to building the tram. “We have cost-effective solutions to carry out this project. “The tram project is still alive,” assured the mayor. He estimates that the city is able to manage the project in its current form for $8.4 billion.
The ball is now in the Quebec government’s court, which must decide whether or not to accept Mayor Marchand’s plan. The latter confirmed that the federal government had reacted.
On the way to gradual commissioning
On Wednesday, Mayor Marchand provided some details about his Plan B. Phase 1 of the 19.3km tram remains unchanged. On the other hand, commissioning would take place gradually in three steps.
The first stage would connect the Le Gendre sector with the University of Laval. The second would go from the University of Laval to the Jean-Paul-L’Allier Garden in Saint-Roch. The third would travel from Saint-Roch to the terminus Estimauville.
Such an approach would lead to the inauguration of the entire course within the planned time frame, that is, around 2029 or 2030, assured the mayor of Quebec. The first stage could even come into force well before 2029, he said.
In addition to this Plan B, the mayor claimed to have a Plan C, although he did not want to reveal its contents.
More details to follow…
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