City of Montreal investing $12M in pedestrianization projects over 3 years

Strolling on car-free streets has become a signature of Montreal summers, and thanks to a new commitment from the city — it will remain a staple for the years to come.

The City of Montreal announced on Friday that $12 million will be invested in pedestrianization projects over the next three years.

Part of the investment — $10 million — will be dedicated to continuing to turn select arteries into seasonal pedestrian-only streets, and the remainder of the funds will be set aside to create new ones.

The nine existing pedestrianized streets that will be renewed include:

• Mont-Royal
• Duluth
• De Castelnau
• Wellington
• Ontario
• Saint-Denis
• Sainte-Catherine East
• Saint-Hubert
• Bernard

“Their success having now been demonstrated,” the city wrote in a news release on Friday. “The pedestrianization projects affected will be able to benefit from a recurring and improved envelope.”

The merchant associations in those areas will therefore not have to requalify for the seasonal transformation with the new program.

The city also adds that the funding ceiling is increasing too, from $375,000 to $700,000.

“This has a major impact on the funding of certain pedestrian streets, such as Mont-Royal, Wellington and Ontario East,” they wrote.

“By implementing the first summer pedestrian shopping streets a few years ago, we dared to innovate,” said Luc Rabouin in the news release, chairman of Plante’s executive committee responsible for finance and economic development.

“Requests for pedestrian areas are multiplying,” he added. “Proof that this initiative has become a pillar of our urban life.”