Quebec counting on federal budget to include Metro Blue line extension

Montrealers may be closer than ever to riding the Metro into the east end.

The proposed extension of the Blue line got a mention in Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitao's budget speech on Thursday.

There was no promise of new provincial money, however, Leitao named the project as oneof two key public transit infrastructureprojects that the federal government is committed tohelp pay for.

Leitao called the Blue line extension, along with rapid transit buses for the greater Quebec City area,"critical to sustainable mobility" and a sign the government attaches great importance "to the needs of municipalities."

Public transit 'a federal priority'

The Liberal MP forSaint-Lonard-Saint-Michel,Nicola Di lorio, is optimistic there will bemoney for the extension in Tuesday's federal budget.

"You look at all these projects, all across the planet, there's a willingness to make them happen,"Dilorio said.

"But they're gigantic projects that require massive effort from everyone involved. What I see now is that everyone is aligned."

He noted that all three levels of government Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa agree thatextending the Blue line is a priority.

But as budget documents aretop secret, Dilorio wouldn't confirm whether Ottawa's spending planwould have money for the extension. He did, however, say thatclimate-change reduction and public transit are priorities for theLiberal government.

How locals are reacting

Dominic Perri, aSaint-Lonard'scity councillor for more than 30 years,says the extension of the Blue line would boostthe local economy and help revitalize the area.

"This is very important for the economic development of Jean Talon, but also for the east end of Montreal," Perri said.

"One-third of the people in the east end don't have a car."

Past promises

• In 2013, whenthe STM and the provincial government last announced they would extend the Blue line into the east end, itwas expected to cost $250 to 300million per kilometre.
• In 2009, former Quebec premier Jean Charest proposedextending the Blue line to Saint-Lonard and Anjou.

But years of empty promises have made some east-end residents skepticalthe Blue linewill ever make it east of St-Michel Boulevard.

Long-time residentLorenzoCiavattellatold CBC News he's been waiting since the1970sfor thepromised Metro extension to materialize.

"That's a long story now," Ciavattella said."It should [have been here]twenty years ago, now... where? You think it's coming?"