Blue line extension a step closer after federal government's $1.3B commitment!
07 Jul 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday the federal government will contribute $1.3 billion towards the extension of the Montreal Metro's Blue line.
"I've represented this riding in Ottawa for 10 years, and in 10 years I've talked to residents about a huge number of things.… One thing that always comes up is public transit," Trudeau said.
"And it makes sense. The east end of Montreal has completely transformed in recent years."
The announcement puts a firm dollar figure on a commitment Trudeau made in April 2018, alongside then-premier Philippe Couillard. At the time, Trudeau said the major investment would come later, through the government's infrastructure plan.
Quebec's junior transport minister, Chantal Rouleau, who is also the minister responsible for Montreal, did not announce the province's investment nor the total cost of the project, saying it is still in the planning stage.
"We don't have the final amounts. We won't have them until after we put out the calls for tender," she said. "But some work is starting already — we will begin seeing the seeds of the project on the ground."
Estimates have put the project cost at nearly $4.5 billion.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and an assortment of federal, provincial and municipal officials were also at the announcement.
