Rue Sainte-Catherine | Montreal moves forward with pedestrianization

Montreal is moving forward with the pedestrianization of two sections of Sainte-Catherine Street. The City is committed to building public squares along the artery by 2030 to restrict automobile traffic. In the commercial world, discontent is already being felt.

“What we have been asked is clear: more green spaces, more public places and more security,” declared Mayor Valérie Plante at a press conference on Wednesday.

“People are asking us to transform Sainte-Catherine Street to make it more user-friendly,” she continued.

The Press revealed, at the beginning of November, that Montreal wanted to permanently pedestrianize four sections of Sainte-Catherine Street. This is all part of phase 2 of the renovation of the infrastructure of the commercial axis, between Peel and Saint-Marc streets, which must be launched in the summer of 2025 and last until 2030.

For the moment, Montreal 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 and Guy, in the heart of the university district.

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.” as well as highlighting the St Jax Center, Oscar-Peterson Square and the Oval.

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

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,” indicates the City.

A lane serving as a landing stage and access for deliveries is also planned.

Montreal will not immediately build the Atwater esplanade, between Atwater Avenue and Saint-Marc Street. According to our information, discussions must still take place on water management and cohabitation with the homeless. However, the City maintains that it wants to move forward with this other public square soon. The same goes for the continuation of the pedestrianization of the Quartier des spectacles, which has already begun.

“Breaked trust” with traders

At the Commercial Development Corporation (SDC) in downtown Montreal, the project is going very poorly. Its general director, Glenn Castanheira, denounces having never been consulted. “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. »

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

In opposition, Ensemble Montréal is also concerned about the lack of transparency. “The Projet Montréal administration wants to impose a project that could disfigure the city center for the next 50 years, without real public consultation. She relies on her electoral majority to ignore the concerns of Montrealers,” notes councilor Julien Hénault-Ratelle.

The latter has already requested, with independent councilor Serge Sasseville, that a referendum be held on the issue during the next municipal elections. “Traffic in the city center will be further paralyzed, even with a few accessible sections,” estimates Mr. Hénault-Ratelle.

Same story at the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal (AHGM). “We must be partners in this matter and work with the City to ensure that this project is a success. It is imperative that the main players in tourism, including hoteliers, are consulted,” says the association’s CEO, Dominique Villeneuve, calling on the City to closely study the issues of traffic and homelessness.

Several meetings took place, says Plante

Valérie Plante retorts that “discussions on the project have been taking place for two years, with everyone”. His office specifies, with a supporting consultation document, that 57 traders were consulted in 2022, in addition to several other players.

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

Its administration ensures that it has clear data pointing 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,” says the head of urban planning, Robert Beaudry. We want to hit a home run and bring visitors back to downtown. »

For its part, the Piétons Québec organization supports Montreal. “The City has chosen a reasonable approach,” judges its general director, Sandrine Cabana-Degani. […] More than 30,000 pedestrians travel every day in this segment of Sainte-Catherine and 75% of people who go to the city center go there by means other than the car. It was a much-needed project. »