Montreal secures Quebec support for part of Pink line a tramway from downtown to Lachine

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante says she's struck a deal to build the western portion of her promised Pink line, giving in to the CAQ government'sdemand she transfer federal infrastructure money for Quebec City's tramway in order to secure provincial support.

At a news conference also attended by Quebec Transport Minister Chantal Rouleau and Treasury Board President Christian DubWednesday, Planteannounced plans to build a tramway line from downtown toLachine, in the city's west end.

In exchange, Montreal willhand over $800 million to Quebec City, to help pay for the provincial capital's proposed $3.3-billion tramway network.

"It's a winningdeal for Quebec Citybut also for Montreal," Plante said.

The Pink line which, when completed, is to run from Lachine through downtownto Montral Nord in the eastern end of the island was a key plank in the Projet Montralplatform in the 2017 municipal election.

The western portion of the Pink line will now be added to the government'sten-year Quebec Infrastructure Plan (QIP).

The government has added $5 billion to the $110-billion QIP budget for 2020 to 2030.

"We want to make this happens as quickly as possible because we feel there is momentum," said Dub.

The eastern portion of the Pink line is not included in the revised plan.

Plante said studies are underway to determine how the city canimprove public transit in the city's east end.

"I've always said that, regardless of the colour or the technology, what I want to see are solutions," shesaid.

'It's like a dream come true': Plante says of east-west tramway

5 years ago

Duration 0:44

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante says a tramway connecting downtown to Lachine is the 'first segment of the Pink line.'

'Step in the right direction': Labeaume

The Legault governmenthas been in negotiations with Ottawa since last October's election to come up with a way to finance the Quebec City tramway project,leading tospeculationtheproject could bescaled back.

The federal government has transferred $5.2 billion in infrastructure funding to the province for public transit, however, nearly three quarters of thatwas earmarked forMontreal, because the funding is based on ridership.

That left just $400 million for Quebec City.

Plante'sagreement tohand over $800 million of the money designated for Montrealto Quebec City's projectwas welcomed by her counterpart there,Rgis Labeaume.

"I salute Valrie Plante's spectacular negotiating skills," Labeaume said in a statement, calling the deal"a step in the right direction."

No longer 'just up in the air'

The agreement with the province is also aimed at improving service on the existing Metro lines and looking at the network "as a whole," said Dub, to connect the Blue line to the futurelight rail system (REM).

Funds will also be set aside to erect protective barriers on the Orange line, to prevent suicidal people from jumping in front of oncoming trains, as well as for other measures to improve flow through the Berri-UQAM Metro station,which Plante described as "congested."

The head of the STM, Montreal's public transit agency, Phillippe Schnobb,saidtoday's announcement will allowthe STM to plan ahead.

"We're talking about projects that now are funded. Before today, these projects were just in the air."