'Exceptional' challenges behind delay for South Shore REM stations, CDPQ Infra says

The grand opening of Montreal's future light-rail network has been delayed once again and the group in charge of building it says "exceptional circumstances" like the global pandemic and Russia's invasion ofUkraine have made it nearlyimpossible to deliver the project on time.

On Friday, CDPQ Infra which is a subsidiary of Quebec's pension fund manager, theCaisse de dpt et placement du Qubec confirmed during a news conference Friday that the five South Shore stations ofthe Rseauexpress mtropolitain(REM) won't open before the spring of 2023.

From the station near Quartier DIX30 on Montreal's South Shore, the electric train is slated to have two stops as it heads north, crosses the Champlain Bridge and stops at Nuns' Island before going downtown.

Originally, that portion of the REM was expected to be up and running last year. The timeline has been delayed several times since then. The opening of most of the other stations on the network has been pushed back to the end of 2024.

"Since 2020, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine haveled to a certain number of consequences difficult to predict," saidJean-Marc Arbaud, CDPQ Infra's chief executive officer. He made references to inflation, supply chains and the labour shortage.

In the last two years, work crews have also had to deal with complications in the Mount Royal Tunnel, where century-old explosives were discovered.

"I'vebeen doing projects for 40 years, including 20 years of mega projects internationally.I've never seen a situation as difficult as the one we'veexperiencedover the last two years," said Denis Rivard, who is the project's vice-president.

"Personally, I am very, very proud of everything we've accomplished."

Friday's announcement comesat a time when commuters heading to and from the South Shore are anticipatingsubstantial delays whenthe province's Transport Ministry shuts down three lanes in the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel for at least three years.

"I am very empathetic withregardto the different problems in Montreal," Arbaudsaid when asked if the company considered the tunnel lane closures before announcing the REM'slatest delay.

"Unfortunately, it's not realistic to roll out the system before going through a certain number of steps that are fundamental... We have to do it and we have to do it well."

Winter opening'far fromideal', CDPQ Infra says

During Friday's news conference, CDPQ Infra's reprentatives stressed that the construction of the South Shore portion of light-rail networkis all but done. Technically, Arbaud said, tests could be completed in time for the stations to be open in the a few months, but that would mean a rollout in the middle of the winter.

CDPQ Infra describesthat scenario as being "far from ideal." The group says it will spend the next few months making sure the transit system is as reliable as possible.

"In the coming weeks, we'll be able to verify its endurance. We'll be able to fine-tune the settings and ensure an increased reliability of the system in a winter environment," said Julien Hurel, the company's head of transportation systems.

The light-rail network is slated to have 26 stations in and around Montreal, covering a total of 67 kilometres.

Its delay meansMontrealers Lucas Dandonneauwill have to wait a little longer. Hesaysthe REM will make hisweekend commute to visit his girlfriend on the South Shorea lot faster than taking the bus.

"It's going to be good for everyone," he said. "A lot of people are going to use it."

However, Brossard resident Shirley Mercer said she doesn't want to ride an automated train that crosses the river at such a dangerous height without a driver in winter conditions.

Saint-Lambert resident Lise Thomson said she would have preferred a subway link to Montreal's Metro line, under the river and connecting to the Angrignon station.

"I hope it works," Thomson said of the REM."I know a lot of people here, Brossard family included, who,I think, aregiving up on it. They're going to just keep using their car."

Brossard mayor looks to ensure transit options

Brossard Mayor Doreen Assaad said she was disappointed to learn the REM has been delayed especially with the tunnel work coming, but it's important forthe REM to be functioning properly when it opens.

"The fact that it is going to be postponed, it's prudent," she said, citing the derailments of the light-rail train in Ottawa.

With traffic hitting a bottleneck at the tunnel to the east, she said she will be keeping an eye on local congestion and try to"mitigate any issues that come to light."

She said she plans to work with the local transportation agencyand wants to have a dialogue with the Ministry of Transportto ensure citizens continue to have reliable bus services.

"It's a big concern for me," she said. "I am worried about the effect it is going to have on circulation in the city of Brossard."