THE GOVERNMENT of Québec announced on April 11 that it plans to spend C$1·6bn on rail expansion over the next 10 years. Included are extensions of the rubber-tyred metro network to Laval, Anjou and Longueuil, and a fourth commuter rail route from Central station to Mont-Saint-Hilaire. The scheme will add a further 7 km of metro tunnels and eight new stations, in addition to the previously announced extensions to Laval and to Pie IX Boulevard.
The long-promised C$350m extension of Line 2 from Henri Bourassa to Laval will have three stations, including an interchange with the Blainville commuter route at St Martin. After the 900 m extension from St Michel to Pie IX, Line 5 will be continued northeast to St Léonard-Anjou. Cross-river Line 4 will be projected from Longueuil to Collège Edouard Montpetit, and studies are under way for a city centre extension from Berri-UQAM to McGill on Line 1.
Transport Minister Guy Chevrette is seeking C$800m from the federal government to support the package. The province has approved its share of the financing and Chevrette suggested that construction could begin later this year.
The city’s Metropolitan Transport Agency is currently working on proposals for commuter rail extensions to Iberville and Dorval Airport, and for four light rail lines (RG 4.00 p206).
