Quebec City’s $3.3 Billion Transit Plan – 23 km of LRT, 16 km Of Real BRT & More!
An interesting comparison can be made with the just approved Quebec City light rail and BRT projects and Metro Vancouver’s Mayor’s Council/TransLink project, extending the light-metro system.
In Quebec City, $3.3 billion will buy you 3.5 km of tunnel, 23 km of LRT, 2 lines totaling 15 km of electric powered BRT, 16 km of fully segregated Bus Lanes and a massive update and upgrade to Quebec City’s Express Bus Network.
Back in metro Vancouver, $4.45 billion buys the locals 12.8 km of SkyTrain light-metro, 5.8 km from VCC Clark to Arbutus and 7 km from King George to Fleetwood and that doesn’t even include the cars!
Quebec City, gets one hell of a bigger bang for their transit buck, getting a lot more, for $1.15 billion less!
Go figure!
Funding confirmed for Quebec City transit plan
Once complete, Quebec City’s public transit network will include two trambus lines over a total of 15km, as well as a 23km-long tramway line.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on hand in Quebec City to announce joint funding to establish a public transit network project which will integrate several modes of public transit.
Once complete, Quebec City’s public transit network will include two trambus lines over a total of 15km, as well as a 23km-long tramway line.
The funding announcement will also improve current Métrobus lines and build 16km of dedicated bus lanes and four new park-and-ride lots.
Four hubs will allow users to transfer from one system to another within the transit network, and two new automated links will make travel between Lower Town and Upper Town easier.
“Our major contribution will help Quebec City build a modern, 21st-century public transit system. This new infrastructure will enhance access to sustainable means of transport, and make it easier for residents to travel, so they spend less time in traffic and more time with their loved ones. More than ever, we have great hopes for Quebec City, and we are committed to building a greener future for all,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, in a media release.
“Today, full funding for the largest public transit project in Quebec City’s history has at last been confirmed. The structuring public transit network is an ambitious project, custom-made for Quebec City. Its primary goal is to positively transform citizens’ quality of life for decades to come and make our city the most attractive in the country. The network will be planned and built in a spirit of transparency, and we will regularly consult with citizens. Quebec City will now be among the Canadian cities with over 500,000 residents that have modern public transit infrastructure. I would like to thank the governments of Quebec and Canada for their support for and confidence in this project,” added Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City.
The Government of Canada will invest up to $1.2 billion in Quebec City’s structuring public transit network through the Investing in Canada infrastructure program. The Government of Quebec will invest $1.8 billion to deliver the project, and the City of Québec will provide $300 million.
The best part is that, even if there is a massive cost overrun, say $500 Million to $1 Billion, they not only will still be spending less per km than many Canadian cities already have, the expected designs of stations and rights of way are extremely practical. For example, the Electric BRT right of way, has a design which has been done in a way to make conversion to LRT sometime in the future, very easy.
Officially, so far, they have managed to stop and control statements of the desire by local politicians to signal for pet project extensions of the LRT Line or entire new LRT lines. There seems to be a controlled effort that is saying, “I know you want 1001 new lines and extensions to the network but lets build up the ridership of the whole network first, before we talk about anything new” This kind of official practicality should be congratulated. The main reason for this is that, there is a stark contrast between the urban and suburban makeup of the city. In many suburban locations throughout Quebec City, LRT or any rail transit technology isn’t operationally practical. This makes the BRT (real BRT by the way), planned bus lanes and upgrades to the mixed traffic express bus network (like the B-Lines in Vancouver), a welcoming addition to the LRT line and not a political challenge to it.