Out of sight, out of mind.
That's the design the Town of Mount Royal wants for the province's billion dollar rapid transit system that could see as many as 10 times the current number of trains passing through the town every day.
Officials and residents are worried that the REM will bring too much noise and be an eye sore as one train is expected to pass through the Mount Royal station every few minutes.
Currently the station sees about 60 trains every day. Once the REM is completed that number will dramatically increase as three train lines connect and pass through the town.
"Adding 500 trains a day without it being covered it totally unacceptable in my view," resident Georges Sayegh told CTV Montreal.
In order to hide and mute the added train traffic TMR is proposing the Caisse de depot extend the 100-year-old Mount Royal Tunnel. The plan would bury about 1.8 kilometres of track running from Jean-Talon St. to the Metropolitan Expressway
"I think it's zero cost because the Caisse de depot will save a lot of money not building the sound barrier, sound wall, that they want to build," said TMR Mayor Philippe Roy.
He added burying the new tracks could end up costing nothing because the Caisse could rent the land above. The town's proposal includes a plan that would see the land covering the train line developed into a green space, with a commercial area, single family homes and a condo tower.
"We have a unique opportunity to gain all that land. It's huge land that you can do something about," said Roy.
In a statement, the Caisse said it is still discussing the situation with TMR officials and is committed to delivering the project on time and budget while ensuring it is well integrated into the community.
The REM line is expected to be completed by 2023.