Réseau express métropolitain: to ensure harmonious integration of REM in the Mont-Royal - Canora centennial rail corridor

• Strict standards as the starting point, active & continuous consultation for more than two years, and the goal of harmonious integration;
• Two citizens' committees implemented to ensure this integration during the construction and operating periods;
• Addition of a pedestrian and cyclist overpass on Lazard and Jasper Avenues;
• A new public space at the Mont-Royal Station, facilitating access on both sides of the track.

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 31, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project reiterates its desire to ensure seamless integration of the REM into the Mont-Royal – Canora centennial rail corridor. Just as with the rest of the network, our team has been working for two years to develop solutions that will ensure integration that takes into account the characteristics specific to the living environments through which REM will travel. This integration into the urban fabric of each sector is even more important since construction of the railway beneath Mount Royal is underway. The integration work takes the following three major axes into account:

1. Harmonious architectural integration;
2. Safe, fluid and universal access to stations;
3. Compliance at all times to the commissioning standards set out in the management and integration agreement and the environmental decree.

Active & continuous consultation for more than two years

In order to achieve this, exhaustive consultation was required; REM's project office has undertaken the following actions since the project was launched. The sum of these activities illustrates that REM's frequency (> 500 trips per day in the Mount Royal Tunnel centennial rail corridor) was presented transparently from the time the project was launched, and was re-iterated at every opportunity for more than two years.

• Presentation of the service proposal and number of REM trips (> 500 per day) to the population and elected officials – beginning in the spring of 2016 and repeated in each presentation;
• Meetings with the elected municipal officials – more than twenty;
• Participation in the Bureau d'audience publique en environnement (BAPE):
• Filing of a favourable brief by the Town of Mount-Royal for the project.
• Meetings with the public: two informational meetings, meeting with residents and groups of citizens who live near the railway;
• Information distribution, outdoor information kiosks and door-to-door with technical experts;
• Implementation of a neighbourhood committee (2 meetings have been held on September 12 and October 11)

This collaborative approach resulted from concrete examples that favour this integration that meets the local needs. Thus, a universally accessible pedestrian walkway was added to Lazard and Jasper Avenues. Also, a new public space covering the railway track will be built to allow access to the Mont-Royal Station as well as the pedestrian and cyclist overpass on both sides of the track.

A more comprehensive information sheet presenting all of the measures implemented to ensure REM integration has been prepared. This sheet also illustrates our commitments to ensuring REM integration during operation; it addresses the automated light rail technology that will be used, which is quieter than the current train.

Two citizens' committees implemented

The REM project office also wishes to work with citizens by establishing working committees on two levels: one for the construction phase and one for the operational phase. It is essential to work with residents and citizens to discuss these two key issues.

Preliminary analysis for covering the railway

Subsequent to a preliminary analysis of the request to cover the railway, this reference project major change is evaluated to cost at least $300 million, and would add at least one more year to the current schedule. This change would require excavation of 2 km of railway, i.e. nearly 90,000 cubic metres of soil and 94,000 cubic metres of rock, six times the quantity estimated for building the Édouard-Montpetit Station located 70 metres beneath Mount Royal.

About REM

The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is a new, 67-km integrated public transit network that will feature 26 stations and link downtown Montreal, South Shore, West Island, North Shore and Montréal Trudeau airport through a fully automated, electric light rail system. Offering high-frequency service, the REM will be in service seven days per week, 20 hours per day, and will be connected to three main Montréal metro lines.

Information sheet

Status of the situation in the Mont-Royal – Canora centennial rail corridor

Regarding commissioning standards during operation:

• The REM is a light rail system, unlike the current train (regular train);
• REM cars will be shorter, more modern, and quieter;
• REM trips will be much more frequent, but the trains will make less noise;
• Certain unpleasant sound signals will be eliminated (e.g.: signals at grade crossings);
• A sound level analysis during operation phase is underway to give us an overview of the projected situation.

Our commitments concerning REM integration during operation:

• Update the sound level analysis that is currently underway;
• Present the results to citizens and elected officials in a transparent manner;
• Implement a working committee with residents to address REM integration during operation;
• Based on results, define when required permanent mitigation measures to ensure the harmonious integration of the REM into the community, before it is put into operation;

Regarding safe, fluid and universal accesses:

• REM will comply with universal access principles to ensure integrated mobility for everyone.
• Arrival of the REM will in no way hinder current access, but will actually provide more numerous and fluid access on both sides of the track:
• The pedestrian walkway on Lazard and Jasper Avenues will be replaced with a universally accessible pedestrian walkway;
• The REM station architecture will encourage creation of small public spaces that will allow new accesses on both sides of the railway for pedestrians;
• The arrival of the REM will ensure access on both sides of the track is maintained at all times, without requiring interruption of train trips.

Regarding the architectural integration of the stations:

• Stations will be perfectly integrated into their environments; the Mont-Royal Station will be one of the future network's signature stations.
• The architecture of this station will be inspired by the original station's architecture, using terracotta elements.
• Within the context of the REM project, special attention was paid to ensure the stations' architecture integrates seamlessly with their environments.
• An architectural charter was developed and an advisory committee composed of independent experts was implemented to optimize the vision for each station.

SOURCE Réseau express métropolitain - REM

Jean-Vincent Lacroix, Director, Media Relations, Réseau express métropolitain, 514 847-2896, [email protected]