The new permanent pedestrianization on Notre-Dame is causing a lot of congestion in the streets of Old Montreal, merchants denounce. They believe they have never been truly consulted by the City.
What you need to know
- Montreal pedestrianized the quadrilateral in front of the Notre-Dame basilica a few days ago.
- Already, traders are deploring the numerous impacts on their activities.
- Accused of having done little or no consultation, the City claims on the contrary to have been proactive.
“It takes 35 minutes to go three blocks,” says the owner of the restaurant Chez Delmo, Benoît Dessureault. People take one way, or they take the small streets and flood Old Montreal in desperation. Rue Notre-Dame is the main artery to cross this neighborhood. »
According to Benoît Dessureault, the City made its pedestrianization plan “without real planning”.
“We are not at all against making streets pedestrianized, but we still need to do it well, with evacuation routes, a real plan, not just improvisation and a municipal decree. There, we are killing my business. My vegetable seller and my fishmonger don’t even want to deliver to me anymore, it’s such a mess. »
Since September 19, Notre-Dame Street has been pedestrianized between Place d’Armes and Saint-Sulpice Street, as part of the “pedestrian kingdom” project that the City wants to establish in Old Montreal.
Place Jacques-Cartier and Rue Saint-Paul are also part of the project.
At the end of April, the local commercial development company (SDC) revealed a survey according to which 54% of traders, residents and workers questioned were unfavorable or very unfavorable to the idea of significant pedestrianization of the sector. Already, the vast majority of the 142 individuals surveyed were worried about the “risk of congestion”.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Traffic was heavy in the area on Friday.
“We knew it would be like this,” comments Mr. Dessureault, visibly irritated by the situation. Thursday lunchtime, I only had 12 people, although I have 50 seats in the dining room and 25 at the bar. Normally, here, at lunchtime, you don’t come in without a reservation. »
A large preoccupied building
Concern also reigns at 500 Place d’Armes, which neighbors the basilica. The building management has just requested the services of the law firm Spiegel Sohmer. The latter sent a letter this week to Mayor Valérie Plante, deploring that his client was not consulted “in order to ensure harmonious implementation”.
“All the tenants and users of the Building have been able to see, since the implementation of the announced pedestrianization, the major impact of this implementation, in particular on the fluidity of traffic, and this until the “McGill and Notre-Dame intersection”, we can read in this letter, of which The Press got a copy.
In its missive, the law firm adds that “it is urgent” that the mayor comes “to see on the spot the negative impact of the measures put in place to [son] new pedestrianization project, in order to find a realistic solution to this problem, which should allow smooth circulation.”
The City says it is proactive
In the mayor’s office, we respond that the City and the borough “are working closely with residents and businesses to adapt this pedestrianization project, aimed at calming Old Montreal”, to make it “more welcoming for Montrealers and visitors.”
“It is normal that questions persist, the project on Notre-Dame having started recently. We reassure the manager of 500 Place d’Armes that access to parking is maintained. We also met the occupants, like the National Bank, several weeks ago and took their needs into account,” says press officer Béatrice Saulnier-Yelle.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
The pedestrianization project in Old Montreal aims to make the area “more welcoming for Montrealers and visitors,” says the City.
She adds that “by limiting through traffic with pedestrian zones, we are creating a friendly environment without restricting access to Old Montreal.” “We are proud of this transformation and will continue to adjust based on feedback from citizens and merchants. »
This project is evolving and improvements are always possible.
Béatrice Saulnier-Yelle, press secretary for the mayor’s office
For the independent municipal councilor for the McGill district, Serge Sasseville, “the City simply should not have pedestrianized this location.” “It’s next to the Palais des congrès, it gives access to Old Montreal. Access to a key neighborhood is completely blocked, without consulting the business community. I’m quite stunned to see that,” he comments.
“At the moment, we are putting several institutions in danger. We need to sit down and talk about what can be done. It’s urgent,” says Mr. Sasseville.