Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough is one step closer to getting two new Réseau express métropolitain (REM) stations. However, those living in the area will likely have to wait a few years before hopping on board in their neighbourhood. Following the passing of an amendment in Bill 22 last Friday, the financing to build the Griffintown–Bernard-Landry and the Bridge-Bonaventure stations at the same time was approved. On Tuesday, the REM’s builder, CDPQ Infra, as well as the Government of Quebec and the City of Montreal confirmed the launch of the planning phase to build the two stations serving residents who live on either side of the Lachine Canal. The Griffintown–Bernard-Landry station will be located between Ottawa and William streets on the south overpass, with the entrance on Dalhousie Street. Meanwhile, the exact name and location of the Bridge-Bonaventure station in Pointe-Saint-Charles will be announced at a later date. The station will be on the south side of the Lachine Canal, near Bridge and Wellington streets, to serve the Wellington Basin area, which is set to undergo a multi-million dollar redevelopment with thousands of housing units as well as parks and an urban beach. The planning and construction of both stations is expected to last approximately four years and will start in the coming months, according to CDPQ Infra, bringing a tentative completion date of 2030. Construction could potentially begin in 2028. Detailed planning of the project includes procurement processes, technical and environmental studies, and the final cost. CDPQ Infra said building both stations at the same time is ideal because it will limit the potential impact on the existing REM network and cut costs. “Montréal continues to grow, and our transportation infrastructure must keep pace. The addition of these two REM stations is excellent news for residents, workers and businesses in Griffintown and the Bridge–Bonaventure area,” said Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada in a news release. “By improving mobility and supporting the development of new housing and economic activity, these stations will help build a more accessible, more connected and more attractive metropolis.” The Quebec government is providing $25 million to the Sud-Ouest REM project, while the federal government is investing $250 million, bringing Ottawa’s total contribution to the REM to $1.83 billion. CDPQ Infra said its contribution “will be confirmed based on final construction costs.” New stations will be a ‘game changer’ The MNA for the area, Québec Solidaire’s Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, has been pushing for the new stations to be built for years and said Tuesday he is “optimistic” that the plans will follow even with a potential change in government this fall. Having the stations serving the Griffintown and Pointe-Saint-Charles areas will be a “game changer” for the residents who live there, Cliche-Rivard said, given the limited public transit options compared to other neighbourhoods. “There was always a frustration that the REM would go through those [neighbourhoods] but never stop and there was a feeling of injustice that is now going to be corrected,” he said in an interview. “I understand that this is not easy. I understand the technical issues, but I would really much hope to see this happening faster. And I’m going to be following through in the next months and years to make sure that everything is done for this to happen as soon as we can.” In a statement, Quebec’s transport minister, Benoit Charette, said the launch of the planning phase marks “an important step” to provide residents better public transit options. “The start of planning work for the two new REM stations represents an important step toward providing the population with faster, more efficient, and sustainable transportation options,” the minister said. “The presence of a REM station within a neighbourhood has positive impacts not only on mobility, but also on residents’ quality of life. For all these reasons, this is excellent news for Montréal and the surrounding areas.”
