Whet by this year’s new metro extension, Laval’s appetite for public transit is now insatiable. Last summer, long-time mayor Gilles Vaillancourt asked the provincial government for a billion dollars to buckle the orange line loop by connecting Montmorency and Côte-Vertu stations, via Chomedey and Bois-Franc. Yesterday, he repeated his demand, adding that he plans to ask Quebec City to create a dedicated tax fund to pay for the extension.
Now, there’s nothing I love more than the thought of building more metro, but is this really the right way to do it? Probably not. Rapid transit has the potential to stimulate high-density development, which would do Laval a lot of good in becoming more sustainable. But it still hasn’t done much to deal with the three new stations it already has. Aside from some half-hearted condo development near Montmorency, there are no large-scale plans to densify the areas around the Laval metro.
In the meantime, there are more urgent investments needed in Montreal’s public transit. The blue line extension to Anjou should be a priority, since it will run through relatively high-density areas like St. Michel and St. Leonard. The city’s commuter train system needs a massive upgrade in service if it hopes to meet demand. Bus lines and existing metro service on the island needs to be bolstered far beyond the improvements that will be made in January. I would even consider the South Shore light rail and the Griffintown tramway to be more important than any further metro extensions in Laval.
Still, I don’t want to ignore the silver lining of Vaillancourt’s demands: we have another convert to the cause of public transit in Quebec. It’s good to have another strong voice advocating for more public transit investment.
Photo by Kurt Raschke
6 comments
I agree entirely about metro priorities. Already the investments in the Montréal metro are of very marginal social value, given the low occupational density. Even extending the blue line in tunnel is doubtful and would not be done elsewhere. Rather a surface light rail or tramway is required.
As a result of this policy of metro expansion there are no funds for important investments, such as in the bus system (more, larger and reliable buses), and the tramway network.
I don’t understand why the Laval Metro with 3 stations was approved in the first place! I understand, going to the other side of the river, but all those stations? And now they want more! They also want to Tax people on it???
Why don’t you just visit the planning the website for Edmonton/Calgary metro systems? Why don’t you see how people all around the world design their public systems, with the public in mind! not some high end businesses who want to benefit from the construction???
You gota be kidding me! It takes only a small brained person working on Cote-De-Liesse, or passing by on the highway (Morning, Noon or Night) to realize the massive need for a Metro from Cote-Vertu further west, and all the way to the airport…
Montreal, claims European culture, but they fail to provide any thing similar in services… All European major cities have succeeded in proving such connections, so how about this most industrial, over populated working force of Montreal? Do you know how much time does it take for workers/engineers working on Cote-De-Lisse, if there is no storm!!! to get to their work on a regular day? any time between 1 hour and 2…
So before you go on this rampage to expand to empty laval, why don’t you service the masses who really need it!!!
why there’s no metro in Fairview Pointe-Claire?? given there are more than 300 000 people living in the West Island area… and Boul. St-Jean, Des Sources, Pierrefonds, St-Charles are so congested…
People living in these area (West Island of Montreal) pay lots of taxes and they should have more metro stations built in the West Island.
The West Island is too low-density for the metro. The same argument can be made for Laval, of course, but at least it was just across the river from the existing metro terminus — building a line to the West Island would span many more kilometres.
Better commuter train and bus services, and perhaps some light rail, would serve the West Island pretty well.
I believe subway expansion to Montreal Trudeau Aiport from the blue line station Snowdon.
The government should take this in consideration.
While entending the metro is a good idea, I think the Montreal government should focus on : MONTREAL. not Laval or any of the suburbs. Just look at the Laval mayor, he is trying to improve the life of people in Laval like Tremblay – should be doing. Although I almost never travel West-island (I live in the east) and extending the blue line to the airport would never serve me I have to agree it would be a good idea – only if the they would extend the blue line into Anjou/Mtl North/Rdp. There is no reason for preference for east-islanders or west but at the very least the West has trains. In the east we have nothing but a bus. A verrrryyyy slow bus :(