It's been talked about since the late 1980s, but finally, the long-awaited extension of the metro's blue line to Anjou was made official on Monday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Mayor Valerie Plante were on hand for the announcement of the $3.9-billion addition of five new metro stations in northeastern Montreal.
"We are at the point of no return," Premier Couillard said during the project announcement at Saint-Leonard Library. Monday afternoon. $32 million has been set aside for technical studies and cost analysis. That cost will be split 50-50 by the federal and provicial governments. Quebec City committed an aditional $330 million for land expropriation.
There was little information about the division of the remainder of the costs. Another announcement with those details will be made once the plans for the project have been finalized and the contracts awarded.
The new stations are expected to run along Jean-Talon Blvd. E., beyond the St. Michel station: roughly around Pie-IX Blvd., Viau Blvd., Lacordaire Blvd., Langelier Blvd., and at Galeries d'Anjou.
"The project will have a huge impact on daily commuters," Quebec Transport Minister André Fortin said. "We project to take 5300 cars off of the road. That's a significant amount both in terms of reducing traffic congestion, but mainly in terms of reducing people's travel times, and that's really what we are interested in doing with this project."
Exploratory work has already begun, to figure out exactly where the entrances and exits will be placed. The job is expected to be complete by 2026.