SAINT-LAURENT – The Caisse de Dépôt held an open house Wednesday to allow the public to raise concerns and find out more about the proposed 67-kilometre electric light rail transit system.
READ MORE: Caisse announces major public transit project to link most of Greater Montreal
Over 100 people turned up to the session, where Caisse employees were on hand to provide information on the project.
“For us today, it wasn’t to have all the details decided – it’s more to present the project, present our goal, our vision, our idea, collect information and after that, continue the work,” said Jean-Vincent Lacroix, spokesperson for the Caisse de Dépôt.
The public was able to catch a glimpse of how the line would look along Highway 40, in the City of Pointe-Claire.
Another map showed the elevated rail line, crossing over the highway from Fairview Pointe Claire to the Holiday Inn.
“We want to make sure that traffic, pedestrians, bicycles, continue to pass so in that section – not in every sector, but in that sector – the strategy is to have an elevated section to have traffic continue,” Lacroix said.
Another area getting an upgrade is the Deux-Montagnes line.
The Caisse insists that although it will be using the existing rail lines, it will look very different.
“It’s going to be brand new stations with a high-level technology to make sure we use to same trail but we bring it to another level of service,” explained Lacroix.
Pierrefonds-Roxboro city councillor Justine McIntyre said although she’s thrilled about the project, she still has a few concerns.
“The project, from what I’ve understood, is not completely finalized yet,” she said.
“So, I’m hoping they are going to take into consideration some of the things that I’m going to bring forward and some of the things residents will bring forward.”
Upcoming open houses:
- Brossard: June 2, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Centre socioculturel de Brossard, 7905 San-Francisco Ave.
- Île-des-Sœurs: June 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Centre communautaire Elgar, 260 Elgar St.
- Pointe-Claire: June 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 6700 Trans-Canada Highway.
- Deux-Montagnes: June 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Veteran’s Hall, 141 Grand-Moulin Street
- Downtown Montreal: location to be determined.
The Caisse de Dépôt said even after the open houses end, it will continue to involve the public in the system’s progression.