A tramway named desire – CAA-Quebec presents a brief to BAPE
For the strategic network to be a real success, the population of the Greater Quebec City area has to get behind this much-needed public transit project, stresses CAA-Quebec in its brief (in French) submitted Thursday to Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE).
CAA-Quebec supported the project when it was presented in March 2018 and still supports it today, despite the many changes announced in recent months.
What hasn’t changed is the need to implement concrete solutions to road congestion by offering people a better range of choices for getting around. Quebec City is ready for and worthy of a public transit solution that is efficient, reliable, and comfortable—like the transit systems in other Canadian cities of comparable size.
What has changed is public support. It should be noted that social acceptability has become the project’s weak point. A 2017 survey of CAA-Quebec members showed that 81% support a possible strategic network, but two recent surveys showed that support for the current project has slipped below 50% (1).
– Sophie Gagnon, Vice President, Public Affairs, CAA-Quebec
The brief states that once trust is well established, the authorities should be able to move forward with the project as usual, without each required change unleashing public opinion to the point of once again calling into question the whole project.
Stressing the benefits for all users
After resolving lingering doubts regarding the choice of vehicle (tramway, metro, monorail, etc.) and winter operation, the project promoters should stress the benefits of the strategic transit network for the entire population:
- For tramway users
- For users of new Métrobus lines
- For motorists, thanks to the decrease in congestion
- For all transportation network users, thanks to the redeployment of buses after the tramway is put into service
- For those who want to combine the tramway with other modes of transport by taking advantage of park-and-ride lots or bringing their bikes on board, etc.
Sound management is also about developing the strategic network
CAA-Quebec applauds Quebec City’s commitment to avoiding cost overruns, but also recognizes the difficulty of planning such a complex project with a fixed budget envelope. To avoid the risk of watering down the project, it is better to focus first on developing the core of the strategic network, essentially the 22 km of tramway and Métrobus improvements, especially for the suburbs. Subsequently, it may be appropriate to consider other sources of funding for network development. It is normal for a strategic public transit network to evolve over time, like the Montreal metro—the backbone of Montreal’s network.
CAA-Quebec therefore recommends:
- Prioritizing fundamental aspects of the project to be carried out first
- Starting by identifying the next phases of the project
- Being fully transparent about construction-related disturbances
- Putting in place mitigation measures and communicating them quickly
- Demonstrating that citizens will not lose out when the trambus is discontinued
- Looking now at coordinating the project with the possible third link
- Providing free, easily accessible, and safe park-and-ride options near as many hubs as possible
In filing its brief with BAPE, CAA-Quebec wishes to reiterate its support for the project.
About CAA-Quebec
CAA-Quebec is a not-for-profit organization that assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance, and residential benefits, products, and services. CAA was named Canada’s most trusted brand in the annual Brand Trust Index for 2020 by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.
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1 CROP/Radio-Canada, January 2020 and Leger/Journal de Québec, June 2020