Two mobility experts welcome with some skepticism the involvement of the Caisse de dépôt etplacement du Québec (CDPQ), which was commissioned by the Quebec government to identify the most optimal structuring network for the city from Quebec within six months.
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“La Caisse is a major project manager, but not a transport planning organization! The goal is profit and profitability. “This is not at all the same goal as the project carried out by the city of Quebec,” argued Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen, vice-dean for studies at the Faculty of Geography at the University of Laval.
To support her statements, she cited the example of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) in Montreal.
“CDPQ – and its subsidiary CDPQ Infra – developed the REM, but initially without connection to the subway or existing transport networks and without much consultation with the transport companies concerned,” she said. Since then, the REM has only been connected to one subway station (!) and another station under construction. So it is not a transport service at all that is integrated into the existing network.”
Second best choice
For Fanny Tremblay-Racicot, an associate professor at the National School of Public Administration, the CDPQ is “probably not” the best planning unit.
“She is not used to taking the existing urban fabric into account and is not interested in urban planning and land use planning. It does not consult the population. His decisions are made based on performance. And their implementation expertise is limited to a single technology, automated light rail,” she listed.
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However, “this is the second best choice as there is no regional or provincial agency specialized in planning and implementation,” the expert added.
A subway oriented towards the suburbs?
Based on the CDPQ’s “unique” business model for the REM, Marco Chitti, researcher at McGill and New York universities, recalled that “the more distance users travel, the more the fund is compensated.”
According to him, “If CDPQ Infra’s business model remains the same […]we will probably have a project [à Québec] which is moving towards the suburbs [métro/train régional]with high traffic speeds and low operating costs per passenger and kilometer [pas un tramway urbain]that reuses existing corridors and minimizes tunnel portions.
What they said about abandoning Mayor Marchand’s $8.4 billion Light Rail Plan B
- “I find it unfortunate that the government is stopping a project that started five years ago. However, there is still some hope as the government seems determined to provide Quebec City with a structured transport network,” said Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen.
- “Given rising costs, declining social acceptance and the questionable environmental impact of the tram project, I believe the Quebec government is making a wise decision by not approving the project. [tel quel] and thereby respects his obligation not to do so [le] achieve at any cost,” Fanny Tremblay-Racicot.
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