Consultation Report on Mount Royal Access Roads: OCPM Recommends Redevelopment of Camilien-Houde/Remembrance Axis as Recreational Road Français
MONTRÉAL, May 2, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - The Office de consultation publique de Montréal makes public today the public consultation report on Mount Royal access roads. The mandate involved two components: a citizens' reflection on a vision for the future of the development of Mount Royal access roads; and an evaluation of the City's pilot project targeting the removal of private-vehicle through-traffic on Camillien-Houde Way and Remembrance Road, which was conducted between June 2 and October 31, 2018.
The report is available at ocpm.qc.ca/acces-mont-royal.
New participation record
The consultation, launched in a context of strong controversy, was marked by record participation by Montrealers. The evaluation process established by the OCPM comprised several types of activities allowing people to express their points of view at various stages of the pilot project. There were over 13,000 participations, either through virtual dissemination and consultation tools, or during information activities, creation workshops, and expression-of-opinions sessions. The commission received almost 2000 opinions, which is the most important contribution to the formal phase of an Office consultation.
"The consultation allowed a record number of participants to express their opinions, contributing to the collective reflection process before, during and after the pilot project. The analysis of opinions received attests to Montrealers' attachment to the mountain and its landscapes, and to the fact that many people are willing to collectively reflect on its future to achieve better cohabitation among the various users," says OCPM President Dominique Ollivier.
Somewhat inconclusive results for the pilot project
In its report, the commission presents a number of findings regarding both the citizens' opinions and the data provided by the City in terms of the pilot project's evaluation. From the citizens' point of view, the reduction in traffic resulting from the banning of through-traffic seems to have been achieved to the detriment of alternate routes, causing congestion in neighbouring areas. The pilot project created a perception of access to the mountain being more complex. Moreover, it does not appear to have significantly improved the cohabitation of users. Lastly, the commission underscores the lack of social acceptance of the pilot project stemming from a major polarization in the debate.
In light of the information provided and the opinions expressed, the commission believes that the results of the pilot project are somewhat inconclusive in terms of access to the mountain, the user experience, and safety improvement. Consequently, the commission recommends that automobile circulation be maintained throughout the Camillien-Houde/Remembrance axis, while planning the latter's redevelopment as a recreational road. That concept would help to enhance the Mount Royal experience and the discovery of its landscape, natural and cultural heritage, while reducing and discouraging through-traffic. In other words, a road that people would use because it is a pleasant drive, and not as a shortcut.
The commission's recommendations also address the sharing of the road, access to the Camillien-Houde lookout, traffic in segments along the cliffs, the development of a new Sun lookout, the redevelopment of access points, signage, parking lots and governance. Several of the recommendations also focus on active and public transportation, as the consultation reminded us that reducing through-traffic would be impossible without major public transit improvement and diversification, and without the implementation of measures to accompany the change.
All documentation as well as the report are available at the offices of the OCPM, 1550 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1414, and on its Web site, at ocpm.qc.ca/acces-mont-royal.
The OCPM is an independent organization that carries out public consultation mandates entrusted to it by the Montréal City Council or Executive Committee. The consultations are used to gather citizens' opinions, primarily regarding urban and land-use planning projects under municipal jurisdiction, but they may also extend to any and all projects submitted by the Executive Committee or City Council. The OCPM was created especially so that some public consultations would be conducted by a neutral body. The consultation reports of the OCPM always include an analysis of citizens' concerns as well as specific recommendations to guide public decisions. The Office also has the mandate to recommend regulations to ensure the implementation of credible, transparent and effective consultation mechanisms in Montréal.
SOURCE Office de consultation publique de Montréal
Anik Pouliot, O. 514 872-3568, C. 514 743-9369, [email protected]
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