Rue Sainte-Catherine | Montreal moves forward with its pedestrianization project

Montreal is moving forward with its controversial pedestrianization project on Sainte-Catherine Street, but not entirely. Two public squares will be created, with the aim of “calming traffic”, but another will be put on hold.

“What we have been asked for is clear: more green spaces, more public squares and more security. […] People are asking us to transform Sainte-Catherine Street to make it more user-friendly,” said Mayor Valérie Plante at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Press revealed at the beginning of November that the City wishes to permanently pedestrianize four sections of the commercial axis. This is all part of phase 2 of the redevelopment of Sainte-Catherine Street, between Peel and Saint-Marc Streets, which should be launched in the summer of 2025 and last until 2030.

For the moment, Montreal only plans to pedestrianize “Place McGill”, between Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and Mansfield Street – very close to the future place on McGill College Avenue – and “Place Concordia”, between Bishop Streets. and Guy, in the heart of the university district. On the rest of the artery, car traffic will be maintained.

The City maintains that these two new pedestrian squares will be “entrance doors to Sainte-Catherine Street” and will “transform the pedestrian experience and calm traffic, while maintaining accessibility to the street” and highlight the St-Jax Center, Place Oscar-Peterson or the Ring.

In addition to these plazas, the sidewalks will be enlarged, a concrete paver covering will be laid over the entire width of the roadway and trees will be added to the artery. Several mitigation measures are planned to support merchants, assures the City, which says it has allocated a budget of $700,000 for 2025.

Montreal, however, is suspending the Atwater Esplanade, between Atwater Avenue and Saint-Marc Street. According to our information, this postponement would be linked to issues related to water management and cohabitation with the homeless. The City nevertheless maintains that it wants to move forward soon. No new details have been given on the continuation of the pedestrianization of the Quartier des spectacles, which has already begun.

Traders not consulted

At the SDC Montreal downtown, the project is going poorly. Its general director, Glenn Castanheira, denounces having never been consulted by the City. “We are faced with a fait accompli. As we speak, there is a significant breakdown in trust between the business community and the City. And we can’t explain it,” he said.

“Is downtown Montreal paying the price for a Project Montreal leadership race? Maybe,” Mr. Castanheira then said, calling on the City to postpone permanent pedestrianization until dialogue has been re-established.

In opposition, the Ensemble Montréal party is also concerned about “the lack of consultation and transparency” around this project. Before Wednesday’s announcement, only a confidential document, prepared in spring 2024 by the City’s Urban Planning and Mobility Department, had been mentioned in our pages.

Councilor Julien Hénault-Ratelle, supported by independent councilor Serge Sasseville, has also requested that a referendum be held on the issue at the time of the next municipal elections.

For two years, assures Plante

Valérie Plante replied on Wednesday that “discussions surrounding the project have been taking place for two years, with everyone”.

She says she understands that the project raises fears, but nevertheless believes that she has found a model that will “improve the street for the benefit of merchants, residents and tourists”, but above all, that “Montreal must have the same ambition” as several other large cities. European cities.

His administration maintains that its data points to “a renewed vitality of the commercial arteries of the city center, particularly on Sainte-Catherine Street West, where an increase in pedestrian traffic has been noted” since phase 1.

“We aim to anchor a pedestrian route which is a signature in Montreal,” said the head of urban planning, Robert Beaudry. “We want to hit a home run and bring visitors back to the city center,” he persisted.

Once the two public squares are completed, pedestrian signage will be installed. The project “will guarantee access to 15,000 parking spaces located less than 10 minutes from the artery”. A lane serving as a landing stage and access for deliveries is also planned.