Light rail transportation between the South Shore and the Island of Montréal: the Board of Trade applauds the Government of Québec’s decision and stresses the importance of meeting the target date for building the new Champlain Bridge

Montréal, April 19, 2013 ‒ The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal applauds the Government of Québec’s decision to build a light rail transportation (LRT) system between the South Shore and the Island of Montréal along the future Champlain Bridge.

“For a number of years, the Board of Trade has been asking for a light rail transportation (LRT) system to be built to relieve congestion between the South Shore and the Island of Montréal,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “This project was on the priority list of major public transit projects for the metropolitan area. We are delighted that the Government of Québec has chosen this high-performance system, which is already in use in most major Western cities.”

“Traffic congestion in the metropolitan area limits our attractiveness and productivity,” Mr. Leblanc said. “An LRT will significantly increase the number of people who cross this important link, while reducing congestion. This is a reliable, rapid and modern transportation system, the kind a major city should have. It’s significant added value for a bridge that, we hope, will be a signature structure for the city.”

“There hasn’t been an exact estimate of the cost of building an LRT, but the Government of Québec has indicated that it will not fund the project on its own,” Mr. Leblanc said. “We understand that this is a massive investment, but at no point should funding issues slow the construction of the new bridge. Obviously, it is essential that work for the LRT be completed when the new bridge is delivered.”

“The Board of Trade reiterates that the federal government needs to reduce the timeframe for building the new infrastructure,” Mr. Leblanc said. “A signature bridge can be delivered by 2019.”

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.

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