The pedestrianization of avenue du Mont-Royal does not only make people happy. Residents of rue Saint-Hubert, north of the commercial artery, can no longer stand the traffic and the dangerous maneuvers of heavy trucks in their area.
Between avenue du Mont-Royal and boulevard Saint-Joseph, rue Saint-Hubert is very narrow. Given the cars parked on either side of the road, trucks struggle to make their way, occasionally tearing off car mirrors and damaging parked vehicles, says Geneviève Savard, a resident of rue Saint- Hubert for over 25 years.
Regularly, citizens observe excessive speeds, dangerous reversing maneuvers by stuck truckers and motorists who take the alleys to get out of traffic jams. “It’s the daily lot of residents,” says Mme Savard, who describes the situation on this section as “chaotic”. “There have been no injuries yet, but collisions with parked vehicles are becoming more frequent and serious. […] Saint-Hubert serves as a year-round transit route. »
However, heavy trucks are prohibited on this street, except for local deliveries.
Street closure requested
Residents point to the pedestrianization of Mont-Royal Avenue, which, although appreciated, amplifies the problems, especially since this summer, work is being carried out on Gilford Street further east, which leaves few alternatives for motorists and truckers who want to drive northbound.
Bollards have been installed at the intersection of Rachel and Saint-Hubert streets, and luminous signs indicate that trucks are prohibited on the latter. This does not prevent heavy vehicles from entering it. “Residents never see a truck driver stopped by the police,” laments Mme Savard.
Another resident, Raymond Pagé, maintains that in recent months, his parked vehicle has suffered significant damage. To prevent further incidents, he recently parked his vehicle by placing two wheels on the curb, an initiative which earned him two $175 tickets within hours of each other. “We will challenge them,” he said.
After filing a petition and questioning the elected officials, the residents of rue Saint-Hubert sent a formal notice to the borough, summoning it to take the necessary measures to ensure their safety. They are asking that in the short term, access to the street from Mont-Royal Avenue be prohibited. They claim that in the longer term, a section of the street becomes a one-way street to the south. “We also want to benefit from the calming measures of Projet Montréal in the neighbourhood. There, on the contrary, it seems that we are the sacrificed street”, indicates Geneviève Savard.
Eliminating a row of parking spaces to ease traffic is not a solution, according to Mme Savard. “We must not make our street more welcoming to through traffic. It increases the speed and the number of trucks. It’s a bad good idea, ”she says.
Upcoming study
Councilor in the Mile End district, Marie Plourde maintains that elected officials are very aware of the traffic problems on this street. The Plateau borough has also commissioned a study that will analyze the repercussions of the pedestrianization of Mont-Royal Avenue on perpendicular streets, focusing on the case of Saint-Hubert Street.
“It is a problem that is complex, and [toute mesure] could have impacts on the whole district. You can’t make a decision on the corner of a table,” she says.
In the short term, the borough could remove a row reserved for parking and add speed bumps, she suggests.
But before closing the street at Mont-Royal Avenue, as residents are demanding, the file should be discussed with the Montreal Police Service and the Montreal Fire Safety Service, reports the elected. In this case, the street should become a two-way street and parking spaces should be removed, she adds.
Marie Plourde assures that the borough is “proactive” and ready to examine several solutions with residents.