GATINEAU, QC, June 27,
2024 /CNW/ - The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Steven
MacKinnon, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and
Member of Parliament for Gatineau,
Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and
Sustainable Mobility, and Mathieu
Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications, Minister
responsible for Youth and Minister responsible for the Outaouais
region, announced a joint investment of $163.5 million for the planning phase of the
structuring electric public transit project between the west of
Gatineau and downtown Ottawa.
For the occasion, they were accompanied by the MP for
Pontiac, Sophie Chatel, the MNA for Hull, Suzanne Tremblay, the MNA for Gatineau, Robert Bussière, the MNA for
Chapleau, Mathieu Lévesque, the
Mayor of Gatineau, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, and the
Vice-President of the Société de transport de l'Outaouais,
Edmond Leclerc.
The $98.1 million granted by the
Government of Quebec and the
$65.4 million granted by the
Government of Canada will be used
to further studies on the Quebec
portion of the project. These include the environmental impact
assessment, the preliminary design, as well as planning activities
related to the engineering of the preparatory work. Their
conclusions will be used to determine, among other things, the
number and location of stations and the choice of rolling stock, as
well as to specify the timetable and potential cost for
construction of the project.
This structuring project would meet the present and future
mobility needs of residents of the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa by offering a reliable,
high-performance public transit service that promotes connectivity
to employment, commercial and university hubs.
Quotes
"This joint investment finances the essential studies for a
structuring transportation project in Gatineau, aimed at meeting the present and
future mobility needs of Gatineau
and Ottawa residents with a
reliable, high-performance public transit service. By improving
access to jobs, businesses and post-secondary educational
institutions, it will also boost the attractiveness of surrounding
neighbourhoods, encouraging the creation and densification of
housing."
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities
"Our government continues to invest in structuring projects to
support sustainable mobility throughout Quebec. Thanks to this investment, our teams
will be able to continue their work to deliver the best project to
meet the needs of the population. The eventual implementation of an
electric public transit system in the region will enhance
sustainable mobility and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport
and Sustainable Mobility
"Our government has responded to this major project in the
Outaouais region. This investment marks an important step in the
development of transportation infrastructure aimed at improving
urban mobility in the National Capital Region. Gatineau has urgent transportation needs, and
this major investment enables us to take action on one of our key
issues: the need for public transit in the west. The work
continues."
The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Leader of the Government in
the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Gatineau
"I'm delighted to see this funding come together to produce the
studies needed to carry out this project. Once again, we are
delivering on our promise to support the City of Gatineau in the development of its
public transit system. In addition to contributing to economic
development, the project will improve the quality of life of
residents, who will benefit from a reliable, low-carbon means of
transportation. We are in action to improve mobility in and around
Gatineau!"
Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of
Culture and Communications, Minister responsible for Youth and
Minister responsible for the Outaouais region
"On behalf of all Outaouais MPs, and as president of the
Outaouais caucus, I would like to express our great satisfaction
with this announcement. The tramway represents an immense potential
for transforming not only mobility in Gatineau, but also land-use planning. We have
invested a great deal of effort in making our city a model of
sustainable and prosperous development. The pre-project study is a
key milestone. We are committed to working together to secure
funding for the Ottawa side of the
river as well. Once the study is complete, we'll be ready to put
shovels in the ground and turn this ambitious vision of a
structuring transportation system for the city of Gatineau into reality."
Sophie Chatel, Member of
Parliament for Pontiac
"I am truly delighted to share with you the news of this funding
for the planning phase of the structuring electric public transit
project. With an investment of nearly $100
million, our government is taking an important step that I'm
sure will excite the citizens of our city's west end. Not only will
this project strengthen our public transit network, it will also
stimulate our local economy. Most importantly, it will offer
everyone a reliable and environmentally-friendly means of
transportation. Once again, it demonstrates our commitment to
creating a greener, more prosperous and prouder Quebec. It's a major step forward for the
future of mobility in our region."
Suzanne Tremblay, Member of
National Assembly for Hull
"This is great news for the people of Gatineau. It's an absolutely essential project
for the City of Gatineau, a
structuring project for transportation, regional development and
the fight against climate change. The investments announced today
underline the commitment of all levels of government to this
project, and I thank them for it."
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette,
Mayor of the City of
Gatineau
"We are delighted with today's announcement, which will enable
us to continue our studies with a view to equipping the region with
a tramway system. The studies have proven it. With strong
population growth in western Gatineau, we need a tramway to meet the travel
needs of the next 30 to 50 years. Since last summer, the project
office has picked up the pace to be ready to start all the
processes as soon as the funding is announced. I can confirm that
we are ready to move forward. Over the next 12 months, we'll be
issuing the first calls for tender, including the one for
professional services, in order to begin the technical and
environmental studies."
Edmond Leclerc, Vice-President
of the Board of Directors, Société de transport de
l'Outaouais
Quick facts
- A structuring electric public transit project is currently
being planned to link the west end of the city of Gatineau to its downtown core, as well as to
the city of Ottawa.
- Two routes are being analyzed for the Quebec portion of the project:
- the northern axis, which includes Chemin Vanier, then du Plateau and Saint-Raymond
boulevards.
- the southern axis, which includes des Allumettières and
Wilfrid-Lavigne boulevards, then Chemin d'Aylmer.
- From the intersection of Saint-Raymond and Alexandre-Taché boulevards,
these two axes will share a common section, which will continue on
Alexandre-Taché and de Lucerne boulevards, then on Laurier Street.
It will cross the Ottawa River via the Portage Bridge and end on
the Ottawa side.
- The amounts break down as follows:
- the Government of Québec is investing $98,093,646 through the Programme d'aide
gouvernementale aux infrastructures de transport collectif
(PAGITC).
- The Government of Canada is
investing $65,395,764 through the Public Transit
Infrastructure Stream of the Canada-Quebec Integrated Bilateral
Agreement on the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
- The Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in
Canada Infrastructure Program
supports the planning, building, expansion, and upgrading of urban
and rural transit networks.
- Including today's announcement, some thirty infrastructure
projects or project bundles under the Public Transit Infrastructure
Stream of the Investing in Canada
Infrastructure Program have been announced in Quebec, with a total federal contribution of
more than $2.9 billion and a total
provincial contribution of more than $5.5
billion.
Associated Links
Investing in Canada:
Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure
Plan
Public Transit Infrastructure Stream
Programme d'aide gouvernementale aux infrastructures de
transport collectif [FR]
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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada