Quebec is extending $ 1.9 million to support projects “improving road safety” and helping road victims in the Montreal region. In total, nine organizations and four boroughs in the metropolis will share this amount.
“I have a concern: we see more cars now on the Island of Montreal than there were in 2019, despite the pandemic. And this pandemic is teaching us things. We must devote energy and reflection on mobility and on urban development, to create safe living environments, ”Chantal Rouleau, Minister responsible for the Metropolis and delegate for Transport, explained Monday at a press conference. held at the Maison du développement durable.
The Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles borough alone will receive more than $ 313,000 on its own to build sidewalks around Yves-Thériault Park, build around 20 additional speed bumps and install a ten educational and interactive radars.
A pedestrian crossing should also be created on the 52e Avenue, north of Sherbrooke Street, an area where several citizens demanded actions “because it was a bit muddy,” admitted Minister Rouleau.
Go “further, faster”
Further west, the Borough of Lachine will receive $ 151,000 to launch a speed awareness campaign and also acquire educational radars, while Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve will receive nearly $ 300,000 to begin construction of pedestrian crossings, ledges and speed bumps.
Some $ 122,000 will also go to Rosemont – La-Petite-Patrie to redevelop the intersection of boulevard Rosemont and rue Garnier, while the organization Piétons Québec will receive nearly $ 250,000 to continue its awareness activities in municipalities .
It is the Road Safety Fund, which derives its income from the reports given to users with photo radars, which will finance all the projects.
The mayoress of Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles, Caroline Bourgeois, affirms that he is urging to tackle the security infrastructure deficit. “In 2021, we still have parks and streets without sidewalks. This is a situation that we must correct, ”she said, calling for“ going further and faster ”for road safety.
“These sums will allow us to move forward towards our goal of Zero death, Zero serious injury by 2040”, also recalled the new head of transport and mobility of the Montreal executive committee, Sophie Mauzerolle, speaking of a “Good timing” to talk about safety, with the arrival of snow.
According to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), there have been 400,000 more vehicles registered on the roads of the province over the past five years. During this period, some 300,000 people obtained a driver’s license. The SQ also adopted a new Vision Zero policy in November, in order to reduce the number of fatal collisions.