The project director of the structuring network, Daniel Genest, interfered indirectly in the electoral campaign on Wednesday, saying that it would be “impossible” to replace the tram with a project of another mode without delaying the schedule, such as Quebec 21 chef Jean-François Gosselin suggests it with his light rail.
“I confirm that it is impossible,” replied Mr. Genest in response to a journalist who questioned him on this subject without naming Mr. Gosselin on Wednesday.
Mr. Gosselin’s party, Quebec 21, is proposing to replace the tramway with a 13.5-kilometer light metro between Parliament Hill and Sainte-Foy. Baptized the VALSE for “light automatic electric underground vehicle”, the new mode could according to him be carried out within the same deadlines and for the same budget as that of the tram (3.3 billion $).
An “opinion” according to Mr. Gosselin
But according to Daniel Genest’s estimates, it will take three or four more years to get there. “If we change the mode of transport, it may require a change of project office”, he argued before adding that it would also be necessary to modify “the reference design” and resume the environmental assessment process. . “In my eyes, that represents at least one two years [de plus] “.
It will also take, he continued, an additional year to write new calls for proposals, and another year to complete the call for proposals.
The start-up of the tramway project is currently scheduled for 2028, two years later than what the Labeaume administration initially planned. According to Mr. Genest, another project will postpone commissioning to 2031 or 2032.
Asked to respond, Jean-François Gosselin suggested that it was an “opinion” since Mr. Genest could not comment on a project that he had not directly studied. “If he studied another option like light rail, I want to see the study. Otherwise, that’s his opinion. “