“We are not yet at the starting line, which will be next fall, but we have never been so advanced in the development of this project,” summarizes the senior manager of VIA TGF.
He recalls that the last budget of the federal government granted it an operating budget for six years. He also highlights the creation of a team now made up of 75 people.
Finally, the call for tenders launched from three international consortia last fall is intended to be the last step before the real launch of the project. VIA TGF is giving itself the summer to analyze the results of this call for tenders, expected in July.
“We are not going to immediately choose a technical solution, but rather choose the consortium that will become our partner. It is with him that we will really begin the development of the project. In short, at the moment, we are in a pre-project phase and we are launching the project aggressively and definitively next fall,” explains Mr. Imbleau.
The TGF is the “largest public infrastructure project since the St. Lawrence Seaway,” according to Martin Imbleau. (Stéphane Lessard/Le Nouvelliste)
He then plans three to five years to carry out various engineering work, and build relationships with the communities and First Nations located near the TGF route. The construction phase would begin in four to five years, estimates the CEO of VIA TGF.
The latter also describes this project as “the largest public infrastructure project since the St. Lawrence Seaway”, recalling that it will be necessary to build electrified rails over a total distance of 1000 km.
A high frequency and fast train
The high-speed train element, neglected in recent years in favor of a high-frequency train, is also back on the drawing board. VIA TGF has in fact asked the three consortia to work on scenarios which would make it possible to reduce journey times.
The positioning of train stations will also be an important element of the equation. But there is no danger of Trois-Rivières disappearing from the list of stops, as we feared in the past, assures the CEO of VIA TGF.
“Trois-Rivières is an imposed figure. The distance is good and the demographics justify it. And we go through the north shore,” he emphasizes.
Mr. Imbleau was also to repeat this commitment on Wednesday morning, in front of business people from the Trois-Rivières Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Take ownership of the project
One of the ingredients for the success of the ambitious project carried out by VIA TGF is that the population wants it. In this regard, Martin Imbleau believes that the cities and municipalities located near the route have an important role to play.
The communities that will be affected by the route chosen for the TGF will be consulted, promises Mr. Imbleau. (Stéphane Lessard/Le Nouvelliste)
“They have to take ownership of this project. It must be known, people must understand that it is required and it must be desired. It must be the people of Trois-Rivières, Shawinigan, Montreal, Laval who say to the levels of government: we need this project. It’s not a private project, we won’t make money with it. It’s a public service, which belongs to you,” he insists.
Mr. Imbleau, however, indicates that he does not want to put the cart before the horse. While it is important to keep the project alive in the collective mind, it should not be burned down with empty announcements.
“It’s a long time before someone can benefit from the service. There is this project development fatigue that can set in, which is always a trap for time-consuming projects. And the opposite is even more risky. Because of this reality, there is often a propensity to want to do things too quickly, to make announcements, to throw out figures and dates that don’t stick. The job we have is to be both exciting and a little dull,” he agrees.
Note that in addition to cities and municipalities, VIA TGF wishes to consult and involve the First Nations communities affected by the project. The Abenaki and Atikamekw nations are part of it, confirms Mr. Imbleau.
