Trudeau visits Quebec City to announce tramway project is fully funded

Quebec City is getting the money it needs to build a tramway, putting an end to months of uncertainty around who would pay for it.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it official Monday at a news conference in Quebec City, which was also attended by Franois Bonnardel, the provincial transport minister and Quebec City Mayor Rgis Labeaume, among other politicians.

"Once completed, the tram will mean a faster commute, less time in traffic, cleaner air and more money in people's pocketsas they trade their cars for public transit," Trudeau said.

The project is expected to cost $3.3 billion in total, with contributions coming from thefederal, provincial and municipal governments.

However, Ottawa and Quebec had been arguing over which level of government should hand over the last $800 million needed to get the projectoff the ground.

That problem was solved in June, when Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante agreed to transfer $800 million of her city's share of federal infrastructure money over to Quebec City.

In exchange, the province committed to help buildthe western portion of Plante's proposed Pink line.

On Monday, Labeaumethanked Plante again for her role in getting the tramway funded.

"This day will remain, in our collective memory, the day Quebec City could finally move forward with the projectthat will literally transform ourcity," he said.

The money will also fund improvements to thecurrent Mtrobus lines, build 16 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes and four new park-and-ride lots.

Quebec City's 23-kilometre tramway will connect the Charlesbourg neighbourhood in the northeast to the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood in the west.It is expected to take 38 minutes to get from one end of the line to the other.

First announcedin 2018, the tramway is scheduledto start running in 2026. The city hopes it will help take up to 12,500 cars off the road every day.