Two proposed stations in Montreal’s electric train project have been relocated in the hopes of bringing more traffic to certain parts of the West Island.
The Kirkland station is now expected to be built at the bottom of Jean-Yves Street, near the southwest corner of the Benevoles soccer field.
READ MORE: Quebec budget 2017: More money for health, education and Montreal’s electric train project
Originally, the plan was to build it at the intersection of Saint-Charles Boulevard and Highway 40 west, but the city asked Quebec’s pension fund to reconsider.
Officials said they believe relocating closer to the RioCan shopping centre would help bring more traffic to the area.
READ MORE: Proposed Montreal electric train project growing in size and cost
Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson told Global News he’s pleased about the relocation and says there are also plans for a multi-level parking lot.
“We did address the situation that we would like to also have some underground parking, but we’re still in the negotiation process in that regard,” he said.
WATCH BELOW: Building Montreal’s electric train line
To build all that, Gibson said businesses like the Tim Hortons, Madisons and Linen Chest may need to go.
“They’ve [RioCan] got some decisions to make,” said Gibson.
“I know the Caisse has already contacted the RioCan group in Toronto.”
The Caisse told Global News nothing is final yet.
Negotiations to buy land are still ongoing.
One of the proposed train stations in Pointe Claire is also expected to be relocated, slated to be built on the east side of Fairview shopping mall, behind the Réno-Dépôt.
Pointe-Claire’s mayor, Morris Trudeau, insists the station at Fairview would be vital.
“Fairview shopping centre is the hub of Pointe-Claire – it’s our downtown city core,” said Trudeau. “We have the West Island main bus terminus there. It will only improve the area as far as people coming in. There could be some traffic issues, but we’ll deal with them when they arrive.”
READ MORE: Quebec pension fund president hopes to ‘revolutionize mass transit’ with electric train project
The train stop is expected to be fully integrated with the mall.