Peel Street in downtown Montreal will undergo a $108 million makeover, becoming a one-way northbound, single-lane artery to accommodate a protected bike path as part of the Réseau express vélo (REV), widening of sidewalks, planting of trees and development of terraces in front of restaurants.
Updated yesterday at 4:19 p.m.
This work, on the section located between René-Lévesque Boulevard and Sherbrooke Street, will eliminate about fifty street parking spaces.
They will also allow the reconstruction of certain underground infrastructures and the installation of new elements of street furniture.
“The redevelopment project selected for Peel Street is perfectly in line with our vision, which aims to make downtown the most beautiful and greenest in North America,” said the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, also mayoress of the borough of Ville-Marie, by press release. “We consulted the population and merchants, we learned about their needs and I am proud of the result we arrived at. »
Adaptation to be expected
The withdrawal of parking spaces does not worry too much the president of the Association of restaurateurs and merchants of rue Peel, Alain Creton, owner of the brewery Chez Alexandre. According to him, to be able to enjoy a better layout of the premises, both customers and restaurateurs will have to change their habits: they will have to park a little further away, and pay a little more for their parking.
“To live the experience of being in the city center, you have to adapt,” says the restaurateur. New York doesn’t have a parking lot on every corner and people still get out. »
“If the environment is beautiful, people will want to visit us. Anyway, the street couldn’t stay as it was. »
The merchants concerned had a presentation of the new concept on Tuesday morning, but they have many questions since several details were missing, according to Glenn Castanheira, general manager of Montreal downtown. “We are waiting for answers, and then we will meet with the merchants on Peel Street to get their reactions,” he said.
We are particularly concerned about the mitigation measures planned during the work period, which will run from 2023 to 2025, after preparatory work starting next fall.
The opposition to the town hall for its part deplored the fact that the merchants of the sector discovered the new developments at the last minute.
“Once again, Valérie Plante’s administration is presenting a project without even honestly consulting merchants, residents and the Montreal downtown team. The redevelopment of Peel Street is a major project that will have an impact on this important commercial artery, the least we could do would be to properly consult all the stakeholders,” denounced city councilor Alba Ramos, spokesperson for Ensemble Montréal. in terms of active transportation,
“The rejuvenation treatment that we will offer Peel Street will make it an artery worthy of the 21stand century, that is to say a street designed to meet the needs of all users and which will promote active mobility. The development of a new section of the REV, which will complete the axis running from the Lachine Canal to De Maisonneuve Boulevard, will also allow cyclists to travel in complete safety”, underlined Sophie Mauzerolle, responsible for transport and mobility on the executive committee.
The chosen concept also includes spaces for deliveries, short-term parking, and a drop-off point for tourist buses.
Continuity with Sainte-Catherine Street
This work on rue Peel will be integrated into the new phase of the redevelopment project on rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, between rue Mansfield and rue Peel. According to the City of Montreal, this will make it possible to reduce the duration of the work, but also to ensure better coordination of the sites and to minimize the impact on the downtown area.
Phase 2 of the rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest redevelopment project will be carried out as a continuation of the first phase begun in 2018 (From Bleury to Mansfield) and will make it possible to rebuild the century-old underground infrastructure, widen the sidewalks, install new elements of street furniture and greening the emblematic commercial artery of downtown Montreal, in addition to adding entertainment spaces.