A group of Quebec environmental activists held a news conference Monday denouncing the much-anticipated REM light rail project put forth by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in April.
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“This project is going down the wrong track,” said Denis Bolduc, a spokesperson for a group dubbed Trainsparence.
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Representatives from the environmental groups said they’re concerned that the Caisse put its proposal together without proper consultations.
One striking contention the groups pointed out was that the light rail project, which would link downtown to the airport and greater Montreal, including the West Island, could be harmful to the environment.
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Some environmentalists worry the rails could be built too close to the l’Anse-à-l’Orme Park and that could spark rampant development in the area.
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Yet, some, like Pierrefonds-Roxboro resident Gilles Trepanier, told Global News that the West Island’s transit network has been neglected for so long the project would be a massive improvement.
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The $5.5 billion light rail project would connect greater Montreal and Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport to downtown Montreal, comprising almost 70 km of track.