No desire for a streetcar: Why Lvis residents don't care much for Quebec City's planned tramway

The excitement over Quebec City's new$3-billion transit systemseems to stop atthe St. Lawrence River's northern shoreline.

The new transit plan, unveiled on Friday, doesn't include aconnection to Lvis, where 27,000 people commuteinto the capitalevery morningby car, bus or ferry.

Not that many people inLviswanted one anyway. They would have preferred the money go toward building more roads connecting them to Quebec City.

"I'm much more interested in a third link than a tramway," said Guillaume Thiviergeas he rode the ferry from Quebec City to his home inLvisafter work one evening last week.

Thiviergewasreferring to the ongoing debateabout whether to build a thirdbridge or a tunnelbetween Quebec City and communitieslikeLvis, on the other side of the river.

South shore commuters have grown exasperated with the rush-hour traffic jams that come with getting in the city.

Thiviergeprefers to take the ferryto get to his downtown office. He said he'd only considerswitching to a bus or tramlineif itcut down on his 60-minute commute.

Clashing visions

Heis not alone feeling tepid about the proposed tramway. Even Quebec City residents are ambivalent.

An onlinesurveyconducted bySOMforCogecoNouvellesin January suggested66 per cent of Quebec City residentswere in favour of a third link to cross over the St. Lawrence River. Only halfapproved of a tramway.

Given a choicebetween the two, a majority ofthe 1,100 people polled would take a bridge or a tunnel over a streetcar.

This ambivalence, on both sides of the water,plagued MayorRgisLabeaume'sprevious efforts to upgrade Quebec City's public transit system.

The first public consultations on expanding the city's public transit supply were held in2009. Last year he seemed close to finallysecuring support for buildinga rapid bus network, which would have included a link between Lvisand Quebec City, helping ease congestion on the bridges.

But at the last minuteLvisMayorGillesLehouillierbacked out of the project, citing concerns over cost.

Labeaumereturned to the drawing board and is now forging ahead with a plan that doesn't include a south shore link.

Lehouillierappeared caught off guard that his municipality was left out.

"How could it be that a project that didn't exist during the last [municipal] election campaign, now suddenly has $3 billion,"hesaid.

UnlikeLabeaume,Lehouillieris a firm backer of a so-called third link. The two have clashed over their opposing infrastructure visions for years.

Lehouillier, moreover, resentsthe Quebec government'swillingness to back the tramway project without making similar commitments to a third link.

"This is a two speed government,"Lehouilliersaid Friday after the tramway plans were announced. "High speed for the city, and slow, super-slow, for the rural areas of Quebec."

Lviswill be holding ana special council meeting on Monday to figure out a way to press for another link with Quebec City.

Still hopefulfor a third link

On Friday, Premier Philippe Couillardsaid he was open toensuringLviswas connected to the tramwaycircuit.

He also indicated his governmentwas still in favour of building a third link, even though urban planners fear it will worsen urban sprawl.

The Liberals are spending $20 million on a feasibility study of such a link, but have also sought to cool speculation construction will start anytime soon.

Lvisresidents, meanwhile, arehopefulpoliticians will be able to put their differences aside, and sooner rather than later.

"The choices are very limited when you want to go to the central part of Quebec City fromLvis.I waste a lot of time," said MaximeMcKenzie while on the ferry home to Lvis.

He moved from Quebec City toLvisa year ago, and said he has trouble getting around without a car.

"I feel like it's two distinct worlds, there's maybe a lack of communication between both shores," he said.