This backbone of the tramway is now valued at 7.6 billion and its entry into service is planned for 2033.
The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, her colleague minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien, presented themselves Monday alongside the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, and the president and CEO of CDPQ Infra, Jean-Marc Arbaud.
The various partners detailed the terms of a final agreement signed in recent hours for the continuation of the megaproject. They set December 15 as the deadline to reach an agreement. Here are the highlights.
TRAMCITÉ IN BRIEF
- The first phase of the tram project, covering 19 km, is called TramCité.
- The route between the Le Gendre and Charlesbourg centers is now valued at $7.6 billion.
- Start of work planned for summer 2027. Commissioning is planned for 2033.
- Two separate agreements are concluded. A first between the government and CDPQ Infra, another between the government and the City of Quebec. These are implementation agreements to confirm shared governance. They concern planning. Other agreements will be agreed on the implementation.
- The government of Quebec is officially the project owner which provides the main directions of the megaproject. It entrusts project management to CDPQ Infra. The City of Quebec has a “support” role for the project manager.
- The financial contribution from the City of Quebec is still estimated at 9%, confirmed the mayor. The way in which this share will be absorbed by the City’s taxpayers will be detailed at a press conference Tuesday morning. “We are going to do it while respecting citizens’ ability to pay,” he insisted in the last few days. He even said that there was no question of the City being handed a larger bill to cover. “Over my dead body», had launched Mr. Marchand.
At the beginning of October, in a preliminary agreement, CDPQ Infra obtained the keys to the Quebec tramway project. As prime contractor, the infrastructure subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has been appointed responsible for planning the next stages, from design to completion.
Of the CITÉ Plan estimated at $15 billion, the Legault government has so far only committed to realizing the first phase of the tram project, a 19 km route between the Le Gendre and Charlesbourg poles. The tramway must pass through Sainte-Foy, Laval University, Parliament Hill and Saint-Roch.
The first phase was originally estimated at 5.27 billion by CDPQ Infra in its report presented in June. The commissioning of the structuring transport network was set for 2030.
CDPQ Infra has already built the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) in Montreal, among others. The operation of the future tramway could, however, be entrusted to another partner, namely the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC).
TRAMCITY HISTORY
November 8, 2023 Prime Minister François Legault withdraws the tram project from the hands of Mayor Bruno Marchand. Faced with the absence of a bidder for the infrastructure component of the tramway project, the latter presented a “plan B” for the tramway taken over by the City of Quebec, costed at $8.4 billion.
November 20, 2023 The Legault government entrusts CDPQ Infra with the mandate to study mobility in the Metropolitan Community of Quebec. He then gives him six months to complete his analysis.
June 12 2024 CDPQ Infra presents its report, called the CITÉ Plan. The next day, the government committed to completing phase 1 of the tramway, from Le Gendre to Charlesbourg.
October 9, 2024 The Quebec government signs a mandate letter with CDPQ Infra, to move forward with project planning. He officially entrusts him with the keys to the tram project.
December 15, 2024 Deadline set for signing a final agreement on the tram project.
December 16, 2024 Official announcement on the project called TramCité.
With the collaboration of Valérie Gaudreau
Related News :