Old Longueuil | A section of rue Saint-Charles Ouest completely pedestrianized this summer

The administration of Catherine Fournier wants to give more space to pedestrians this summer. A section of rue Saint-Charles Ouest will be entirely pedestrianized between rue Saint-Sylvestre and rue Saint-Jacques, in Vieux-Longueuil, a first for the municipality.

Henri Ouellette-Vezina
The Press

Car traffic will be completely prohibited from June 23 to October 2. “This is the very first time that we will have a completely pedestrian street. In the last two years, there was only one pedestrian route, so we really want to make sure that we maximize our conditions for success, and learn from this year’s experience,” said Mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier. , interviewed at The Press.

If all goes well this summer, M^me Fournier intends to repeat the experience in the coming years on a more permanent basis, even if it means developing other potential pedestrian areas. “Ultimately, it is certain that we will consider analyzing the possibility of widening the section in the coming years, and to assess whether there are possibilities in other boroughs”, explains the young elected official. .

She says she is delighted that the movement of pedestrianization is gaining several cities in Quebec, including Montreal, but also Terrebonne or Rouyn-Noranda. “We drew a lot of inspiration from what is being done elsewhere,” she says. We see each year that the percentage of appreciation is increasing. It shows more and more to traders and people who have concerns that it works. »

At the City’s Executive Committee, the head of economic development, Sylvain Joly, assured “that local traffic on Saint-Jean Street will be maintained at all times, at the intersection of Saint-Charles Ouest”. The City also undertakes “to support merchants by issuing permits for seasonal terraces within five days, then to authorize the development of terraces on sidewalks now, and those on the street as of June 23, the date of the start pedestrianization,” added Mr. Joly.

“Logistical challenges”

Longueuil recognizes, however, that several “logistical challenges” arise, including delivery by truck to certain businesses and the collection of residual materials. “Here again, we looked at what is being done in other cities to learn from it,” said Catherine Fournier, who also held a meeting on Monday with merchants on rue Saint-Charles Ouest. “Their big concern was that we pedestrianize without any particular animation. But we will have a dynamism for all age groups, ”she assures.

In addition to pedestrianization, Longueuil will take advantage of the opportunity to extend 1 million in order to further animate this sector of rue Saint-Charles Ouest, which will notably host the national holiday on June 23 at St. Mark Park.

In all, the administration plans to organize around fifty “activities and shows” in the neighborhood during the summer season. Street furniture, floor markings, bicycle racks and pétanque courts will also be integrated into the section. A buy local campaign “promoting support for merchants” will also be launched in the coming weeks.

At the beginning of April, the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, announced that ten sections of Montreal streets would be reserved exclusively for pedestrians over the next three summers, thanks to an investment of 12 million from the City.