The Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Sean Fraser, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Gatineau, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Ms. Geneviève Guilbault, and the Minister of Culture and Communications, Minister responsible for Youth and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, Mr. Mathieu Lacombe, announce a joint investment of $163.5 million for the planning phase of the structuring electric public transit project between western Gatineau and downtown Ottawa.
For the occasion, these elected officials were accompanied by the federal MP for Pontiac, Ms. Sophie Chatel, the MP for Hull, Ms. Suzanne Tremblay, the MP for Gatineau, Mr. Robert Bussière, the MP for Chapleau, Mr. Mathieu Lévesque, the mayor of Gatineau, Ms. Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, and the vice-president of the Société de transport de l’Outaouais, Mr. Edmond Leclerc.
The amounts granted by the Government of Quebec, $98.1 million, and the Government of Canada, $65.4 million, will be used to continue studies on the Quebec portion of the project. These include the environmental impact assessment, the preliminary design, as well as planning activities related to the engineering of the preparatory works. Their conclusions will be used to determine, in particular, the number and location of stations as well as the choice of rolling stock, and to specify the schedule and potential cost for the construction of the project.
This structuring project would meet the present and future mobility needs of residents of the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa by offering a reliable and efficient public transportation service that promotes connectivity to employment, commercial and university hubs.
Citations
“This joint investment finances essential studies for a structuring transportation project in Gatineau, aimed at meeting the present and future mobility needs of residents of Gatineau and Ottawa with a reliable and efficient public transportation service. By improving access to jobs, businesses and post-secondary education establishments, it will also stimulate the attractiveness of surrounding neighborhoods, thus promoting the creation and densification of housing. »
The Honorable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“Our government continues to invest in structuring projects to support sustainable mobility throughout Quebec. Thanks to this investment, the teams will be able to continue their work to deliver the best project that will meet the needs of the population. The possible implementation of an electric public transportation system in the region will improve sustainable mobility and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. »
Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
“Our government has responded to this major project in the Outaouais. This investment marks an important step in the development of transportation infrastructure aimed at improving urban mobility in the National Capital Region. Gatineau has urgent transportation needs and this significant investment allows us to act on one of our important issues, the need for public transportation in the west. The work continues. »
The Honorable Steven MacKinnon, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Gatineau
“I am very pleased to see this financial package come to fruition in order to produce the studies necessary for the completion of this project. Once again, we are delivering on our promise to support the City of Gatineau in the development of its public transportation. In addition to contributing to economic development, the project will improve the quality of life of citizens who will be able to benefit from a reliable and low-carbon means of transportation. We are taking action for better mobility in Gatineau and its surroundings!”
Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications, Minister responsible for Youth and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region
“On behalf of all the Outaouais MPs and as president of the Outaouais caucus, I would like to express our great satisfaction with this announcement. The tramway represents immense potential for transforming not only mobility in Gatineau, but also land use planning. We have invested enormous effort to make our city a model of sustainable and prosperous development. The preliminary project study constitutes a key stage. We are committed to working together to also obtain funding for the study for the Ottawa shore. Once this study is completed, we will be ready to put the shovel in the ground and realize this ambitious vision of structuring transportation for the city of Gatineau. »
Sophie Chatel, MP for Pontiac
“I am truly delighted to share with you the news of funding for the planning phase of the structuring electric public transit project. With an investment of nearly $100 million, our government is taking an important step that I am sure will excite the citizens of the west end of our city. This project will not only strengthen our public transit network, but also stimulate our local economy. More importantly, it will offer everyone a reliable and environmentally friendly means of transportation. This demonstrates once again our commitment to creating a greener, more prosperous and prouder Quebec. This is a major step forward for the future of mobility in our region.”
Suzanne Tremblay, Member of Parliament for Hull
“This is great and good news for Gatineau residents. This is an absolutely essential project for the City of Gatineau, a structuring project for transportation, land use planning and the fight against climate change. The investments announced today clearly underline the commitment of all levels of government to this project, and I thank them. »
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, mayor of Gatineau
“We are pleased with today’s announcement, which allows us to continue studies to equip the region with a tramway system. The studies have shown this. With the strong population growth in western Gatineau, we need a tramway to meet the transportation needs of the next 30 to 50 years. Since last summer, the Project Office has picked up the pace to be ready to initiate all processes as soon as funding is announced. I can confirm that we are ready to move forward. Over the next 12 months, we will launch the first calls for tenders, including one for professional services to begin the technical and environmental studies.”
Mr. Edmond Leclerc, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Société de transport de l’Outaouais
Quick facts
- A structuring electric transportation project is being planned and aims to connect the west of the city of Gatineau to its city center as well as to that of the city of Ottawa.
- Two routes are analyzed for the Quebec portion of the project:
- the northern axis which includes Vanier Road, then Plateau and Saint-Raymond Boulevards;
- the southern axis, which includes the boulevards of Allumettières and Wilfrid-Lavigne, then Chemin d’Aylmer.
- From the intersection of Saint-Raymond and Alexandre-Taché boulevards, these two axes will share a common section, which will continue on Alexandre-Taché and de Lucerne boulevards, then on Laurier street. It will cross the Ottawa River via the Portage Bridge and end on the Ottawa side.
- The amounts are distributed as follows:
- The Quebec government is investing $98,093,646 through the Government Assistance Program for Public Transport Infrastructure (PAGITC).
- The Government of Canada is investing $65,395,764 through the Public Transit component of the Canada-Quebec Integrated Bilateral Agreement on the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
- The Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program aims to support the planning, construction, expansion and modernization of urban and rural public transit networks.
- Taking into account today’s announcement, around thirty infrastructure projects or groups of projects have been announced in Quebec as part of the Public Transportation Infrastructure component of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program with a total federal contribution of more than $2.9 billion and a total provincial contribution of nearly $5.5 billion.
Related links
Investing in Canada: Canada’s long-term infrastructure plan
Public transport infrastructure component
Government assistance program for public transport infrastructure
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