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Mayor Routhier welcomes study extending REM to Châteauguay

le vendredi 30 octobre 2020
Modifié à 8 h 22 min le 30 octobre 2020
Par Michel Thibault

mthibault@gravitemedia.com

Mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier was delighted to hear François Bonnardel announce the possibility of extending the REM to Châteauguay. The Minister of Transport spoke of the project on Bernard Drainville’s 98.5 FM show, on October 20. Châteauguay’s chief magistrate reacted in a letter addressed to the Minister on October 22nd. “This is the first time that I have heard of a government representative acknowledging that the City of Châteauguay cannot be ignored in matters pertaining to public transportation. I sincerely hope that this new attitude will have an impact on all future projects to enhance public transportation services on the South Shore,” Pierre-Paul Routhier wrote to the Minister. He emphasized that “one of the biggest challenges facing the City of Châteauguay is that of increasing the transportation service offer to meet the pressing mobility needs of a region with over 80,000 residents.” “Our citizens only have one direct access to the Island of Montreal via the Mercier Bridge and there is always heavy traffic, the Mayor of Châteauguay reminded. CPDQ having been awarded a study mandate for a new electric public transit system on the South Shore’s east-west axis, which would provide our citizens with access to the REM, Longueuil Metro Station and Cégep Édouard-Montpetit, is excellent news.” Mr. Routhier observed that the announcement constituted “a step in the right direction” but that it “did not fix the more urgent issues related to traffic and mobility in our region.” He told Minister Bonnardel that he would be “very pleased” to meet with him and the MNA representing Châteauguay, MarieChantal Chassé, to present the region’s main transportation issues and “show him the importance of finally offering an optimal transportation option in the region.” Public transportation in Châteauguay is currently limited to buses. (Translation Amanda Bennett)

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