The absence of reserved lanes for public transit on the future Île-aux-Tourtes bridge has raised many questions among the population, but also among the elected officials of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

In an open letter, Saint-Lazare Mayor Geneviève Lachance questions the choices recently made by François Legault's government, particularly with regards to infrastructure projects.

Here is the complete letter.

The Legault government recently made two major decisions regarding infrastructure and public transit projects, raising questions about the rationality of its choices.

On one hand, Mr. Legault announced the construction of a tunnel dedicated to public transit linking Quebec City and Lévis, without even having any estimates of the costs. On the other hand, the government announced the construction of the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge linking the island of Montreal and Vaudreuil Soulanges, without including any public transit systems or even a reserved lane for buses, despite the great need and the numerous requests from the elected officials of the 23 municipalities and the citizens of the region.

It is difficult to understand the government's position on the issue of public transit and the level of priority it gives to it, as these decisions are particularly contradictory.

It is important to note that the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge is a vital infrastructure that is part of the strategic road network supporting trade between Quebec and Ontario.

According to 2019 data from the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité nearly 87,000 vehicles use the structure each day. In addition, according to the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ),
the population of Vaudreuil-Soulanges was 164,297 in 2021 and is expected to increase by approximately 18.1% by 2041.

The decision not to include a form of public transit system in the replacement of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge is incomprehensible, given that this region already suffers from a significant deficit in this regard. Without forgetting that it is also essential to increase sustainable mobility and promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, a large part of which is emitted by vehicles.

The Vaudreuil-Soulanges region has experienced significant demographic and economic growth for several years, which makes the need for efficient public transportation even more urgent. It should be mentioned that there is a new hospital planned for 2026 that will require at least 3,000 employees, thus increasing the need to invest in public transportation in the region to help attract a portion of the workforce.

Additionally, according to the ISQ, the population of the Lévis region was 152,058 in 2021 and is expected to grow by approximately 14.1% by 2041. The Legault government, in its initial plans for the $6.5 billion third link project, had projected that the tunnel would have been used by about 50,000 vehicles each day (Marc-André Gagnon, Journal de Québec).

The MTQ's modelling, with the new project reserved solely for public transit, predicts 3400 trips through the tunnel during the morning rush hour in 2036 (Érik Chouinard, ICI Radio-Canada).

The government's decision to invest heavily in public transit in the Lévis region also raises questions about the criteria used to determine the priorities of the government. It is difficult to understand why the government is not putting the same effort into investing in public transit in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, where the needs are also pressing.

It seems obvious that the government lacks consistency in these files. The choices should be based on clear data and reliable studies, anticipating the future needs of these two regions. In the name of transparency, it is also essential that impartial studies be made public.

Public funds should be allocated equitably based on the collective needs, in order to adopt a more transparent and responsible approach. The Legault government must take a strategic and long-term vision, because after all, these infrastructures will exist beyond most of us.

Geneviève Lachance
Mayor Ville de Saint-Lazare