The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has decided to bypass boroughs which refused to issue it with the necessary permits to launch work on the extension of the blue line.
In a series of four official letters released this week, the carrier invokes its special powers to evade the regular municipal approval process.
The districts of Saint-Léonard and Anjou have “not issued the necessary authorizations to carry out the extension of the blue line”, notes Maha Clour, the leader of the project.
The construction sites concerned are those of the two buildings of the “future Anjou metro station”, “the future Langelier metro station”, as well as an auxiliary ventilation structure. Some should start next September.
Special power to bypass municipal authorities was granted to the blue line extension project through the Act respecting the acceleration of certain infrastructure projectsvoted by the Legault government in 2020.
The letters specify the reasons given by the boroughs for refusing permits: an exterior development was deemed non-compliant by Anjou, the STM did not attach photos of the trees it intended to cut down in Saint-Léonard, and the two boroughs point out that information was missing from the requests.
“An extraordinary project”
In a written statement, the STM defended its use of its special powers and ensured that it works “in a spirit of collaboration with partners.”
“The completion of a metro extension like that of the blue line represents an extraordinary project which requires adaptations to the applicable regulatory framework for certain aspects,” argued public relations specialist Kevin Bilodeau. The organization “works in close collaboration with the districts affected by the work on the extension of the blue line as well as the City Center”.
The STM even ensures that the use of special powers results from an “agreed mechanism” with the boroughs: if they do not wish to modify their local regulations to adapt them to the STM project, they can simply let the organization use his special powers.
Anjou and Saint-Léonard did not call back The Press Friday.
The inauguration of the five new stations of the extension of the blue line is planned for 2030.
The call for tenders for the digging of the immense 6.5 km tunnel ended on 1er last February, but the selected company has still not been announced by the STM. The Press reported that only the Horizon Bleu Mobilité consortium, led by Pomerleau, was still interested in the project. The group, convinced that it was alone in the running, had even threatened to withdraw from the process if certain elements of the future contract were not modified to its advantage.
The result of the call for tenders should be known no later than July 30, 2024.