Mount Royal traffic plan will go to public consultation after all

The City of Montreal ischanging its tune when it comes to holding a public consultationabout the controversial plan to block through traffic on Mount Royal.

MayorValriePlantesaid the consultations will happen"before, during and after" the pilot project tomake a stretch ofCamillien-HoudeWay off limits to motorists but the plan will still go ahead.

Marvin Rotrand, a city councillor for the borough,said he expected the motion to be defeated. He said he wassurprisedwhen Projet Montralproposed amendments and backed the motionafter staunchly defending the plan over the past month.

"In the last days, obviously something changed," he said.

Opposition leader Lionel Perez, who proposed the motion, said holding a public consultation is a"victory for all Montrealers."

The pilot project is set to take place from June 1 to Oct. 31, 2018.

Stiff opposition and criticism

The pilot project, announced in February,will make a 800-metre stretch of Camillien-HoudeWay off limits to motorists.

The road would be blocked to through traffic between Smith House andBeaver Lake parking lots.

The decision cameafter an18-year-old cyclist,Clment Ouimet, died when hecollided with an SUVthat pulled a U-turn in front of his bicycle on Camillien-Houdelast year.

While Plantehas stood byher pilot project, the plan has faced stiff criticism.

Opponentsargueit will reduce access to the mountain and create a barrier between the city's east and west ends.

"I think it's wise to step back and say a significant number of citizens have spoken," said Rotrand. "Obviously they have more work to do."