Contracts have been awarded for designing the Viau and Lacordaire stations on the blue line extension. This fills out the story from two months ago about contracts for Pie-IX, Langelier and Anjou.
In other metro news, work is set to begin next month on elevators at McGill station.
Gilles Duceppe’s family is suing east-end seniors’ residence Lux Gouverneur for $1.25 million over the death by exposure of Duceppe’s mother a year ago. Hélène Rowley Hotte died on a very cold night after an aborted fire alarm at the home. She was found dead outside the building the next morning, evidently having been unable to get back inside.
Michel Cadotte, sentenced for having administered the coup de grâce to his severely demented partner in 2017, was paroled Monday after spending eight months behind bars.
There’s not a lot of news in this bit except the usual opposition grinding. Mayor Plante is keeping an eye on the snow removal budget. Nonetheless, the opposition gets in some digs about how Projet’s management is poor. It’s a sad attempt at opposing what everyone knows: you can estimate, but the snowfall of any given season can’t be firmly predicted by anyone. And the snow will be cleared to keep the city running. It’s futile to politicize this fact but that doesn’t mean Lionel Perez won’t try.
If that were the only possible mismanagement to worry about at Montreal city hall, we’d be doing well.
Such as?
After decades of corruption–and more alleged corruption–if the worst thing that goes on is a poor estimate of snow removal needs, then we should throw a party.
Tidying up orange cones left not only by city workers but by utilities and private construction firms is an endless job for the city’s blue collar workers.
Two tenants in the Sud-Ouest are holding out against renoviction.
A highway closure delayed because of weather will be happening next weekend.
Michael Applebaum doesn’t have to pay back the golden handshake he received on his departure from the mayor’s chair.
Trudeau airport is taking precautions over travellers from Wuhan, where the recent outbreak of a new viral pneumonia has killed several people. It’s a tense situation in China, where people tend to travel for the new year, which is next Saturday.
CBC has a good piece on how things stand on the commercial street situation: both taxes and rents are too high to return to an era of smaller businesses in an eclectic mix.
Update: The problem is not afflicting this city only. Here’s a piece from the New York Daily News on exactly the same issue there.
This is what I’ve been saying all along – PM talks and talks about fighting gentrification but in the end it’s not in their best interests to do anything about it, as the city’s main source of revenue is the exact same commercial taxes that drive gentrification.
Look at Mile End – free terrases with rainbow benches for the artisanal ice cream shoppe, that they can handle. Hand-carved sculpture benches for the walking tours to rest at, sure. Planters in the extended sidewalks full of non-local annuals that need to be replanted every single year, of course… but gentrification? “Our hands are tied by other forces”. Always a convenient excuse, it worked with AirBnB, why not gentrification?
This is why we have dying business serving the locals like the two deps that closed within the last 3 months on St. Viateur, yet dozens of tiny overpriced restaurants that are technically small enough to squeak in under the restaurant ban proliferating like fungus in a damp basement. Nobody in charge really cares about the neighbourhood per se, it’s all optics to maintain the vote. If that means keeping taxes high so they can afford civic beautification projects that appeal to their core demographic of white, middle class, francophone university educated, urban planning wonk yuppies, then so be it.
As far as Projet Montreal are concerned, Lululemon, David’s Tea, QDC Burger, etc. are the new face of Mile End and if you don’t like it, move to Ville-Emard.
Projet got voted into a lot more places than just Mile End. The different boroughs may have different priorities but I don’t see the same demographics as having carried Projet to victory here in NDG, for example.
I guess I must have got them confused with some other party that rose to power in the Plateau, specifically Jeanne-Mance, Milton Parc & Mile End, and while they did win the civic election, they have (for instance) the (white, male, etc.) mayor of the Plateau in charge of the city’s economic plan. It’s pretty clear whose sensibilities they cater to, I think.
Ian, there is lots of blindness.
The Jeanne-Mance neighbourhood (especially the South) is mostly a pedestrian neighbourhood. Heck, on my street, we only see two cyclists who live on the block… and yet bike paths… because people from the de Lormier neighbourhood need to cycle through… but we have a Centre de readaptation and we can’t even get benches for them to rest on when they go out for a well needed walk. For all the lovely planters in Mile End, what we need in this part of the Plateau is more paths to walk on. And in the area of the Centre de readaptation, places where they can walk that are safe and protected cross-walks… they are struggling with canes and walkers and yet to get back to normal… they need to walk around the neighbourhood. There are at least two more old age homes in Jeanne-Mance, right off of Sherbrooke… all pedestrian. And the larger buildings tend to have more older folks as well.
Milton Park, to the west isn’t the same either. Much more students, who are less interested in a bench on the street, they want a path that they can bike and rollerblade and drive an overpriced scooter on.
And all the while, people have to drive through, clogging the streets with cars. But then the cars need some place to stop for 15 minutes to pick up something in the neighbourhood and we either laden the streets with parking meters that let people sit too long, or removed them and left no place to stop. Not to mention we don’t have enough delivery zones to keep deliveries from double parking and clogging the same streets.
It’s a tough set of solutions that we need. Some thinking out of the box. Some bringing in European trained city planners… because bringing in the North American ones bring back car thinking, rather than neighbourhood thinking.
I’m not arguing against what their priorities may or may not be in the Plateau/Mile End. I just don’t know that it’s a PM-wide thing. But I guess that doesn’t help anyone who doesn’t like what they’re doing in Plateau/Mile End.
Ian: “PM talks and talks about fighting gentrification but in the end it’s not in their best interests to do anything about it, as the city’s main source of revenue is the exact same commercial taxes that drive gentrification.”
Yes, but before going full out and blaming the current government, rememember, property in Montreal is mostly private, and there are some very powerful landlords out there that could do serious damage to any politician who tries to regulate their profit-making. Neither PM or any other political party can simply ‘take over’ all the leases and start changing things overnight. Even building massive amounts of subsidized housing affects private landlords, so it’s in THEIR interest to make sure no one does.
As long as we remain a capitalistic society, the market will do as it pleases, and our governments will continue to ‘inspire and motivate’ because there’s not a lot more that they can do short of abolishing most capitalism and replacing it with some kind of collective or state ownership.
This would require a revolution, and not a by-law.
@qatzelok… hmm we need Alternative Models Of Ownership. OK, I know… Brexit killed the Labour Party.
The eastern green line has been down and, as I post, is only slowly starting back up.
It is unbelievably packed at 8:35, I couldn’t get in the first two trains though I am feeling good about my chances for #3.
Third train lucky.
There were three violent but non-fatal incidents overnight – some minor stabbings and a shooting with no victims, all in the north end.
EmilyG 21:15 on 2020-01-20 Permalink
I wish that before, or in addition to, starting these new projects, they’d put in the effort to make sure all the escalators are working all the time.
Filp 03:53 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
*definitely in addition to
If we waited for all escalators to be functional all the time, nothing would ever happen again, because there will never be a point where escalators are always working. Especially transit ones, which experience insane amounts of abuse. Besides, escalators are not *essential*, in the way elevators are. If a station were to have stairs and an elevator, people with mobility issues use the elevator and the rest the stairs. With escalators and stairs, sure it’s an easier ride up for most, but no one with wheelchairs or strollers can access the station.
Ian 09:13 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Hahahaha escalators aren’t essential, we can see who takes transit with kids here…
Yeah I have carried a stroller all the way up the Lucien L’allier, Atwater, Guy-Concordia, Square-Victoria, Laurier, Vendôme, Villa-Maria (etc) stairs with a kid and bags MANY times – I only got a car after both of my kids were stroller age – if anyone with a stroller has to rely on escalators or an elevator (if there is one) in our broken down stations they are in for an unpleasant surprise, even if they are just trying to get to a hospital.
I’m with EmilyG here, there’s no reason for escalators to be out of service for months at a time as they so often are. That’s an STM problem, not an escalator problem. That said, if they can’t keep escalators running consistently, what makes you think they can keep elevators running? The fact is they don’t.
SMD 10:37 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
The lesson to learn is to not source all your escalator parts from the only small company that makes them. The blue line escalators relied on crucial parts that were only produced in the late 80s by one company, in France if I remember correctly, which went bankrupt a few years ago. The STM tried to machine the parts themselves, then went to tender to find replacements. These ended up being defective, after being delivered late. So… don’t put all your escalator parts in one basket.
Filp 10:57 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Ian, I think you missed my point entirely. If any of those stations had an elevator, you would take that. Regardless of the status of the escalators. They are not essential what so ever. Elevators are. Regarding elevator down time, I’ve taken my elevator at Cartier basically every day and it has much less down time than the escalator. But regardless, they’re just not related what so ever. I would much rather have every station have an elevator than escalators, it’s not even close in priority imo. We cannot delay elevator installation because you feel we should prioritize escalator repair, when there are people who can’t take the metro at all because there are no elevators.
Ian 11:05 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
I think you missed my point – if they can’t even keep existing escalators running, what makes you think they are capable of installing and maintaining elevators in every station?
Frankly they can’t even keep the metro running for a full month without a breakdown, THAT is the core service. Elevators in every station may as well be dreaming in technicolour.
Michael Black 11:26 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Escalators are constantly on, and generally no lineup.
Elevators move when they are needed. And generally people wait for them.
I suspect if we depended on elevators in the metro, they’d be breaking down a lot. Even now, I get the impression that some using elevators aren’t doing it for “need” (ie they have a wheelchair or stroller, or something heavy/big or some other necessity) but for novelty or because they like elevators rather than escalators. An impression.
Filp 11:27 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Well, I take the stm elevators currently, and they’re much more reliable than the escalators are, which take an absolute beating. Your low expectations of the stm’s ability to maintain elevators is not a valid justification for delaying accessibility upgrades. I’m sure people in wheelchairs would just like to be able to take the metro already, and people with strollers and luggage would rather not lug them down the stairs. Also, if you’re under the impression that the metro is particularly bad when it comes to downtime, it’s really not. Elevators in every station is not dreaming, it should be done *already*. There are many in the process already. Some stations won’t be possible due to a lack of foresight, but whenever possible they will be installed.
Filp 11:32 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Im sure if we did rely on elevators, that would be a problem. But as long as there are stairs and the elevator wait is more than a minute, most people will just take the stairs. The idea that more elevators would magically mean more breakdowns is a weird assesment of the situation. I see it as improved accessibility. You can say more busses means more possibilities to break down too, but honestly it’s a bit ridiculous
Kate 11:40 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
On the issue of people appearing to take the elevators for “frivolous” reasons: you can’t necessarily know why someone would prefer the elevator. Last year I had ankle trouble for a few months and it was always less painful to take the metro elevator, if there was one. I didn’t limp or use a cane – there was no way an observer could have known. And many people have more serious invisible disabilities than a sore ankle.
Ian 11:56 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Take it as you will, Flip – I’m going on the STM’s track record, not some kind of probability algorithm. Their maintenance record is pretty lousy, and EmilyG made a very good point despite your dismissive woolgathering about what new elevators might solve based on your experience at one station.
EmilyG 12:05 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Not all stations have elevators, and therefore the choice to take the elevator.
Most stations have escalators. There are also many people who have health problems who find it difficult to climb up stairs, especially lots of stairs.
It’s really frustrating when you try to exit a metro station, and the escalators aren’t working, or only one is working and it’s in the going-down direction. If you’re disabled, have health problems, or even if you’re just tired or in a rush, you’re not going to like hauling yourself up all those stairs.
As for elevator use, I suspect some people at Cote-Vertu metro (maybe other stations too) use the elevator to get to the station exit more quickly, as that station gets crowded easily and wasn’t designed to handle such large numbers of people. (I’m not judging, just saying this is one of many reasons people might use the elevator.)
Michael Black 12:14 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Well I said “impression”. But I’m still pretty immobile, and do have a cane (people actually do react to it, so long as I don’t forget it somewhere) but I’m using escalators.
My impression comes from the elevator at Alexis Nihon Plaza, families waiting for it. I think they’d be fine if that elevator wasn’t there.
But yes, it’s hard to judge. Elevators in such places are a new thing, so some of this is colored by me thinking some like the novelty.
I am reminded of the time in grade 7 when I visited Weredale w ith someone from school who lived there. There as an elevator, but I guess was slow going in and was caught by the doors. Some other kid threatened me with a beating if I did that again. Apparently it had been out of service for some time, and the kids at least didn’t want it back out of operation.
There are no restrictions on the elevators in the Metro, but if there was a shift to greater useage by people who could use the escalators, then it would strain those elevators.
Flip 14:30 on 2020-01-21 Permalink
Ian, I’m not sure what’s so theoretical about the benefits of elevators. If you’ve ever had to bring a stroller, a luggage or more importantly, someone in a wheelchair, down into the metro, you’d know that an elevator is the obvious solution. I saw an article recently about a guy who is handicapped that can haul himself with his wheelchair up the metro stairs and escalators. That works for someone as young and agile as him. A 60 year old? Not so much.
JaneyB 00:24 on 2020-01-22 Permalink
Given the exceptional depth of our stations, something has to be done to make the escalators always functional. I think Lucien L’Allier is 10 stories deep. I cannot understand a multi-month repair job. They are not smelting iron ore on site and designing new parts from scratch. The stroller issue alone is just an impossible problem if the escalators don’t work. It’s not like Toronto where you’re carrying up or down one flight. Wheelchairs, the elderly, crutches, luggage etc. are completely sidelined. Elevators are nice but they are still too few.
Dhomas 08:36 on 2020-01-22 Permalink
It’s not an either or situation here, folks. The metro should have both escalators AND elevators. The advantage of escalators is that when they break down, they are still usable (as stairs). But elevators are essential to get those with mobility issues into public transit.
Ian 08:52 on 2020-01-22 Permalink
I never said it was either/or, I said that given that they can’t keep escalators running I don’t see how they intend to keep elevators running – let alone put one in every station, as some here are advocating for.
That’s not a cynical statement given the very reasonable observation that so many escalators seem to be out of service for months at a time, even at deep stations.
Dhomas 09:45 on 2020-01-22 Permalink
I would say the STM needs to put in elevators (yes, in every station) AND improve their maintenance record. That said, I’ve only ever seen one elevator not working (at Bonaventure) and it was repaired in a matter of days, not months.