Coalition wants parliamentary commission on Montreal's light-rail project

The light-rail system won't be open until 2020 at the earliest but West Island residents expressed excitement for the project, which would bring commuters from Ste-Anne-De-Bellevue to downtown in 40 minutes.

As the second phase of public meetings on the proposed light-rail system in the Montreal area begins, a coalition of environmental groups, citizens and a union opposing the project and is calling for a parliamentary commission to study the whole.

The coalition, called ‘Trainsparence,’ is denouncing the speed at which the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) project is moving.

Calls for tender are being issued this fall, the work is set to begin in spring 2017, and the REM is expected to be operational by December 2020.

The coalition argues that a parliamentary commission would take the time to examine the route, environmental impact and even the relevance of the project.

The Caisse de Depot revealed details of the system in April. It will stretch for 67 kilometres and promises to bring commuters from downtown to Trudeau Airport in 20 minutes and from Ste-Anne-De-Bellevue to downtown in 40 minutes.

“Too many questions are left unanswered,” said Trainsparence spokesperson Denis Bolduc in an interview with La Presse Canadienne.

With files from La Presse Canadienne