Public transit tops agenda at meeting of Valrie Plante, Martin Coiteux

Economic development, social housing and public transit were among the issues raisedin a meeting this morningbetweenValrie Planteand Martin Coiteux, the provincial minister responsible to Montreal.

Plante got elected mayor on a promise to improve Metro and bus serviceand ease congestion on the roads. Shewill need Coiteux's help to make it happen.

"It was a very productive meeting,"Coiteuxtold reporters at joint news conference following their discussion, adding that they exchanged cell phone numbers"so it will be easy to communicate."

• Valrie Plante wants to 'get Montrealers moving again.' What can she actually get done?

There were no specifics announced, but Coiteuxsaid the city will have more control over its housing policy by the end of the year.

Blue line comes first

Plante's commitment to improve public transit, he said, is also a priority shared by the Quebec government.

Her proposed Pink line, however,likely won't happen anytime soon.

Coiteuxsaid the province is already committed to Montreal's light-rail system and the extension of the Metro's Blue line.

Plantesaid she's also on board with those projects.

"I will continue to support those projects because they are important. They will serve the needs of a lot ofMontrealers," she said.

But she said she wants to make sure public-transit projects don't stop there.

"Mobility is important. That's something that came out very loudly in this campaign: Montrealers want to have more mobility options," she said.

• Countdown to victory: 72 hours with Valrie Plante