This is a first: the third link now unites the mayor of Québec. On social networks, Wednesday morning, Bruno Marchand welcomed the most recent version of the project entirely devoted to public transport that the government must detail on Thursday.
Since his first steps in politics, Bruno Marchand had put up tacit resistance to the ambitions of the CAQ, which promised first one tunnel, then two, dedicated to road transport between the two shores of the St. Lawrence.
Just over 12 hours after several media, including The dutyreported Tuesday evening that a new version of the project made the sacrifice of automobiles, the mayor of Quebec salutes “great news” and underlines “the courage” shown by the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault.
“It is a logical choice that was essential: modern, ecological and economical”, indicated the elected municipal official in a short message. “It also demonstrates the leadership needed in a time of uncertainty related to the climate crisis. »
According to him, examples abound in the world to demonstrate that “connecting city centers by a structuring mode of public transport promotes the economic development of the two cities. »
Bruno Marchand specifies that during a conversation with Minister Guilbault on Tuesday evening, he was able to obtain “some details of the new version of the third link”. While waiting for the public presentation scheduled for Thursday, he says “to be delighted that the transport options are multiplying even more in the Quebec region. »
“With the tramway project which continues to move forward and this new version of the third link, the citizens of Québec and Lévis will have more and more options for getting around and making informed choices, both ecologically and economically. »
Unprecedented support, praise too
Bruno Marchand had never expressed such firm support for the third link, nor expressed such complimentary words to Minister Geneviève Guilbault. The two have had trouble in the past, especially around the Quebec tramway.
When she wore the hat of minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, the current Minister of Transport showed a tempered enthusiasm for the tramway, which the mayor of Québec defended tooth and nail. The insertion of a 500-meter section of shared lanes on its 19.3 km route had notably raised an outcry among the caciques of the CAQ.
Éric Caire was indignant that the mayor of the capital wanted to “pollute the lives of motorists”, while Geneviève Guilbault argued that Quebec should take into account people living 50 km from the planned section before proceeding.
Bruno Marchand had accused the CAQ government, at a press conference, of doing “short-sighted politics”. Without ever publicly denigrating the third link, the elected representative of Quebec constantly reminded that the responsibility for proving its relevance rested on the shoulders of the government.
Over the years and the different versions of the tunnel, the data long requested by Mayor Marchand had begun to obstruct the path of the third link. Two studies published earlier this year on air quality in the lower town pointed to road transport as a major source of atmospheric degradation in the area.
Building a motorway tunnel in neighborhoods where air quality was already heavily compromised therefore seemed contrary to public health. The mayor of Quebec must fly to Europe for a mission in France and Belgium. Before takeoff, he will address the media at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.