CDPQ Infra study supports elevated train
No surprise here: a new study done for CDPQ Infra supports the “need” for an elevated train on René-Lévesque.
The main reason seems to be the idea that the REM has to be faster than motor traffic to persuade people to abandon their cars and take the train. Although the related assertion that a surface tram would mean more work on René than an elevated train strikes me as completely bogus.
Lots of cities work well with surface trams. Why not ours?
david675 00:08 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
Even Anton wouldn’t come in and support a street level train over grade-separated train. It’s a bus without the dynamism – fixed (so can’t be redeployed), ultra costly, and slower.
Elevated or underground makes the most sense.
And let’s get real: R-L qua shoe street just sucks. It’s ugly, beat up, and disused. A Vancouver-style high capacity elevated toy train set buzzing people here, and there is not going to be this District 9-style conversion of that dumpy part of one of the dumpiest axial/arterial/showpiece roadways maybe in the French-speaking world.
Plus, Lemay is just great.
If this thing really happens, in 10 years people will wonder how we ever got by without it.
Kate 09:35 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
david, have you even walked along René in the last ten years? You have no idea what you’re talking about. It is not ugly, beat up, and disused. Writing like this – “one of the dumpiest axial/arterial/showpiece roadways” – suggests you are more seriously out of touch with conditions in Montreal than I ever imagined.
Uatu 10:13 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when it breaks down or when it needs maintenance. It’s in the middle of the street so more road closures and detours etc. And it will break and need maintenance because that’s reality. Sometimes we forget that when all we hear is PR speak and dirt free computer renderings
John B 11:15 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
For maintenance & breakdowns, that’s something we can figure out. What does Vancouver do, or Chicago or NYC’s elevated sections of the subways, or Wuppertal? Vancouver’s is the only one built of concrete, so it’s probably the best place to look to see what will happen.
R-L is kind of a “Shining Skyscraper” street for the short section starting just east of Guy to St-Laurent-ish. Done right it could add another level to the streetscape in a very futuristic way with direct connections into towers. Done wrong, well, I think we know what that’ll be like. Outside of that skyscraper alley R-L is kind of run down. Either the REM will revitalize it or drive it further into run-down-ness.
Alex L 13:55 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
Why won’t they run it under another nearby street, like de la Gauchetière? There are few skyscrapers along that street and certainly fewer public services. Connections to the orange line would theoretically be much easier, and it leads directly to destinations such as the gare centrale, square Victoria, palais des Congrès, Chinatown, the CHUM, etc.
dhomas 14:55 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
@David### I hear you can also get a 5 and a half for about 500$ in Montreal. 😛
david335 16:43 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
I know R-L by heart. It’s better now than it used to be, and I guess most streets in Montreal are pretty dumpy, but my point is that it’s no big loss if we run a skytrain down there.
qatzelok 20:56 on 2021-05-08 Permalink
For me, people who think an elevated train on R-L is a good idea aren’t simply wrong – they should never be allowed to decide anything regarding urbanism or architecture.
I wouldn’t even ask them their opinion on anything beyond math.
Ant6n 14:50 on 2021-05-10 Permalink
A tram for rene levesque is a great idea – to replace the 435 bus. Being more slow it would be more of a circulator, it’s not really appropriate for transit going to the end of the island (and couldn’t compete with the existing green line).
One thing i really question is why I’ve would allow this giant impact on the street for a tiny amount of ridership. If we were „sacrificing“ rene levesque in order to double the rapid transit capacity of the City, it would be worth considering. But for an measly 5-10%?
Incidentally, if they hadnt crippled the capacity of the Mount royal tunnel when building the rem1, then the rem2 could probably be a branch of the rem1, going along the mascouche line. It would be simple, cheaper, and still connect Montrea north and PAT with downtown
Ant6n 14:52 on 2021-05-10 Permalink
Argh auto correct: i question why WE would allow this impact.