Montreal's proposed light rail system misses mark, critics say

The honeymoon periodappears to beover for the proposed light rail project,hailed asMontreal'slargest expansion of publicinfrastructure since the construction of theMetro system.

The ambitious, $5-billion project received widespreadpraisewhen it was announced last week, particularly from West Island residents who have spent decades pleading for improved train service.

But experts and opposition politicians saythere are holes in theplan.

• Light rail project for Montreal proposed by Caisse de dpt
• ANALYSIS:New light rail system for Montreal by 2020. Seriously?
• PROFILE:Michael Sabia, the Caisse'sman behind the plan

Here is a round-up of some of the criticism facing the proposalput forward by theCaissededptet placement duQubec last Friday.

The67-kilometre rail line would connect 24 stations acrossLaval, the South Shore and the West Island, with the first trains scheduled to roll by 2020.

• MAP| Clickhere for a detailed view ofthe 24 stations

The Metro connection

Kevin Manaugh, an urban planning professor at McGill University, called the Caisse's plan "ambitious and exciting." However, Manaugh said,the proposedrail system needs to be better integratedwith the Metro.

Only one station, Gare Centrale, would be connected to the Metro, he points out.

Craig Sauv, a city councillor withProjet Montral, raised the same issue.

He told CBC Montreal's Daybreak on Mondayhe'd like to see the construction of two additional light railstations,McGill anddouard-Montpetit, which would belinked to the Metro.

Transport Minister Jacques Daousttold Daybreakthe province is aware of the need to better connect the proposed rail line with the Metro.

He said the province would make an effort to push that idea during negotiations with the Caisse.

Blue line dreams

ThePartiQubcoiscalled for a "balanced" approach to public transit at a news conference Monday, sayingthe rail line could mean the long promisedBlue extension willbe delayed by another ten years.

The borough mayor of Anjou,Luis Miranda, echoed that concern.

"I'm very happy for the West Island. Congratulations," Mirandasaid in an interview Monday.

Miranda has been lobbyingforthe Montreal Metro's Blue line to be expanded into his borough for years, but he's concerned there won't be enough funding to cover both the Blueline's extension and the train system.

He said the city's east end is more densely populated, and it makes no sense to favour the train project instead.

MariaOliveri, atransit user,said the"Metro's something that's great,but they keep promising in the east
end to have something, andwe still don't have it."

Quebec has already said it will pitch in cash for the rail project, though it hasn't yet provided an amount.Ottawa, though, has yet to offer a firm commitment.

• Ottawa won't commit yet to funding Montreal's light-rail system
• Fedsprepared to fund Montreal Metro's Blue line extension

Questions of access

Ed Janiszewski, themayor ofDollard-des-Ormeaux, saidhe still has questions about howparking will workaround these stations and whether they will be easily accessible to commuters.

He added that he'd like to see the final price tag, once such infrastructure is taken into account.

• Where would Montreal's 24 new light rail stations be located?

McGillprofessorManaughsaidtheplan has a lot of potential to "get current drivers out of their cars" and motivate them to take the train,however, he raised a concern about whether it does"much to connect more socially disadvantaged areas to employment or other amenities."

He added that it's "important to recognize the importance of lower costs investments in improved bus service, bike paths, and safe, comfortable walking paths in addition to these types of high-profile projects."

'A bold step'

Despite those concerns about access, Manaughis impressed with the overall project, whichhe calleda "bold step."

He called it a "quality low-carbon transport alternative" that will address the longstanding needs of the West Island, the airport and the South Shore.

"More importantly," Manaugh said in an email statement, "this kind of 'public-public' financing could represent an efficient model for future projects."

By investing in such a big project, he said, the Caisseis showing "the importance of moving away from the current automobile-centric focus of transportation infrastructure."

Manaughsaid he and his research team planto do a more thorough analysis of the project over the next few months.