This week's meeting with Minister Geneviève Guilbault did not answer all of the Quebec mayor's questions and there are still “many things to clarify” about the tram, said Bruno Marchand.
• Also read: Private meeting in the town hall: Geneviève Guilbault visits Bruno Marchand
• Also read: The Ministry of Transport “very, very, very secret” on the third link
The Minister of Transport visited the mayor in the town hall on Tuesday. The two elected officials spoke about the mandate of the Caisse de dépôt etplacement du Québec (CDPQ) Infra and what happens next.
“I think we still have a lot to clarify. We need to be reassured about the future of things, about the project that needs to be considered for the fund, but this needs to be done with the people of the city.”
As for the mandate itself, the mayor reiterates: “The Prime Minister said he believes it has been started. I guess it has begun.” CDPQ Infra’s conclusions are expected during 2024, around June.
bridgehead
On Thursday, Le Soleil announced that the bridgehead rehabilitation project is moving forward without waiting for the Quebec transportation project to be structured.
For Mr Marchand it is important that the tram project is taken into account in this project.
“It's impossible to ignore [du tramway]. We have communicated our concerns to the Department of Transport. We cannot pretend that there is no project and then tell ourselves that there never will be. The integration of the bridgehead is necessary for the future. Otherwise we work in isolation.”
He echoed the words of Marc Des Rivières, director of the Transport and Smart Mobility Department.
“We need to ensure that what we are going to do always allows us to carry out the tram and transport hub project,” the official said.
Common front with Lévis?
Last week, the mayor of Lévis, Gilles Lehouillier, proposed a common front with Mr Marchand on the tram and the third link. The mayor of Quebec, without getting all wet, reiterated his intention “to work with Gilles to make Quebec and Lévis a region where mobility is interesting.”
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