City has new vision for Turcot interchange

Montreal Mayor Grald Tremblay has proposed an alternate plan to rebuild the Turcot interchange, which he says would reduce the number of cars, improve public transit and limit the impact on surrounding neighbourhoods.

The city'splan, released Wednesday, proposes a smaller interchange than the onesuggested by the province and would be modelled after interchanges in Chicago, Ill., Albany, N.Y. and Shanghai, China, city officials said.

It would include a raised circular structure with the number of lanes for car traffic reduced from four to two on the east-west axis. A third lane would be reserved for public transit.

'This is a unique opportunity that the government must seize to respect its commitments and to protect its credibility.' Sidney Ribaux, quiterre

Unlike the province's current proposal, the city's plan would not require any residential expropriations.

The plan also calls for the creation of a park and residential area along the Saint-Jacques escarpment and the construction of a tramway from Lachine to downtown.

Tremblay called the city's proposal a plan for the 21st century.

"It is a new vision, it is a new mindset," he said. "If we're really serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and favouring public transit, the way to go is the project we put forward today."

Tremblay couldn't say how much the proposal would cost, but argued the return on the investment generated by a reduction in traffic congestion and the creation of additional space for commercial development would justify any additional expense.

Province called on to adopt plan

The city's plan was welcomed by community groups and Vision Montreal Party Leader Louise Harel, who called on citizens to unite around the plan.

"I think the mayor did the right thing to finally make this proposal public," said Harel. "Now that it is on the table, Quebec must know that there will be unison in Montreal that we will speak with one voice."

The ball is now in the hands of the Quebec government, said environmental groups, who accused the government of hypocrisy for its plans for the Turcot interchange which would see an increase in car traffic.

"The government now has a project in its hands that will allow it to be coherent with its orientations in terms of transportation, urban planning and health and to confirm Quebec's leadership in fighting climate change," said Sidney Ribaux of the environmental group quiterre. "This is a unique opportunity that the government must seize to respect its commitments and to protect its credibility."

Quebec Transport Minister Julie Boulet will respond to the city's proposal by the end of the month, said a spokesperson for the minister.

The government's current plan to replace the 40-year-old structure is expected to cost $1.5 billion and be completed for 2017.