Montreal 'mobility squad' will have the power to issue fines in effort to ease traffic woes

In an effort to ease Montrealers' traffic woes, Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante has launched a mobility squad that can issue fines, remove illegal construction barriersand communicate directly with those who are responsible for roadwork and closures.

The team has been in the works since June 2018, and is tasked with quickly intervening to solve traffic problems and improve circulation in the city, Plante said.

It comes as Montrealersbracefor an increase in traffic as a result of continuing work on the Dcarie Expressway, Turcot Interchange and the Champlain Bridge.

On top of that, work related to construction of the new light-rail train network (REM) is ramping up.

The mobility squad will consist of six people, all existing borough inspectors, according to the city.

They'll be on duty from Monday to Friday,5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Our traffic report explains how the squad will work.

Montreal's new 'Mobility Squad' is expected to ease congestion on the roads. CBC Homerun traffic reporter Jeremy Zafran explains.

6 years ago

Duration 0:43

Montreal 'mobility squad' will have the power to issue fines in effort to ease traffic woes.

Five of them will be on the road for morning rush hour, three for the Ville-Marieborough, one for the Plateau-Mont-Royal and one for the Southwest. One more inspector willtake the afternoon shift.

Squad members areintended to be the liaison between Montreal's road camera surveillance network, emergency, police and fire services, and the City of Montreal.

The squad also has the power to issue fines.

Drivers could be slapped with a ticket if they areillegally parked or double-parked and causing congestion.

If a construction company isfound to be in violation of its permit, inspectors could hand out fines ranging from $400 to $1,000.

The squad could also dismantle construction sites that aren't in operation.

Before a construction project that affects city roads gets underway, the mobility squad will meet with the companyand inform them of all the city roadwork rules.

"What we are proposing is a very concrete tool to make sure that we can fix some problems before it becomes a huge problem for car drivers andtruck drivers,"Plantesaid.

The Quebec government said last week it will invest $500,000 in the mobility squad.

With files from CBC's Navneet Pall and Jeremy Zafran