Montreal's light rail network adjusted to reduce environmental, urban impact

Quebec's pension fund manager, the Caisse de Dptet Placement, is making a few tweaks to its ambitious urban LRT project in Montreal, a week before public environmental review hearings into the project are set to begin.

The electric, fullyautomated rail line would be made up of 24 stations stretching from Brossard to Dorval's Pierre Elliott TrudeauAirport. It's projected to cost $5.5 billion and be completed by 2020.

The main change announcedWednesdaymorning is a deal with CN for the Caisse to acquire the rail infrastructure that leads from Griffintown into central station downtown.

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Reducing urban and environmental impact

The Caisse said the adjusted plan will reduce impacts on the urban landscape, eliminating the need for some road closures and preserving several heritage buildings, including theRodier building, that were slated for partial or complete demolition.

The Caisse said it's also taking steps to reduce the environmental impacts of the project on various wetlands.

In particular, the route through the Des Sources nature park in the Saint-Laurent borough will now be completely underground.

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As well, the new plan includes a 10 per cent decrease inthe number of expropriations.

Around 25 homes will be expropriated to build the LRT.