Quebec’s mayor is sticking by the idea of a moratorium on new highway construction recommended by a panel of experts and wondering about the “green” aspect of a possible third link.
• Also read: Urban sprawl: “populist” and “misleading” CAQ arguments, according to Bruno Marchand
• Also read: State of the two bridges: Marchand says he trusts the government
• Also read: 3rd link: The opposition demands more transparency
The Advisory Committee on Climate Change, which advises Quebec’s Department of the Environment, this week proposed several possible solutions to combating global warming. Their recommendations include a moratorium on the construction of new highways.
Bruno Marchand advocated such a moratorium. “There are experts telling us that we should have a moratorium while we think things through. Why not ? »
third link
Mr. Marchand said it did not “completely” question the project for a third motorway link between Quebec and Lévis.
“But it goes along the lines of this idea: How do you qualify it as green? What impact does it have in terms of greenhouse gas emissions in its construction? »
The mayor doesn’t believe that the electric car is the panacea because its construction is associated with greenhouse gas emissions. He asks the government to show him that the project can be useful.
He also points out that a third link, reserved for public transport, should be explored.
“Why not study the question? Why not ask the experts if city-centre to city-centre transit would be a winner? »
improvements
If he refuses to decide for or against the tunnel mega-project, it is because the government has said that this could change by 2025, he explains. “I’m not saying no, because there could be ways to improve this project and make it more environmentally friendly. »
On Twitter, Councilwoman Jackie Smith openly reacted against the third link, regretting that the mayor is still refusing to comment.
” It’s true [que le gouvernement tient un discours dangereux sur l’étalement], and it’s just as dangerous to oppose the third link on the pretext that it might be a good project. I repeat, a third link without urban sprawl is impossible. »
Priority on sustainable mobility
The recommendation of the Research Committee, chaired by Professor Alain Webster, proposes to prioritize sustainable mobility in land use planning by integrating active transport.
We also anticipate “there will be no increase in highway capacity in Quebec’s six metropolitan areas until a public mechanism to assess the interactions between mobility, urban planning and transit is fully operational.”
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