Since  the recent announcement that Laval is considering establishing a network of Trolley Buses throughout its territory, a lively debate has ensued throughout the region of the merits of such a system versus that of Trams. Many commentators have stressed that the slight advantages of Trams do not make up for the fact that their costs are much higher.  The choice between the two systems could have huge ramifications for the future of the city of Montreal.  Once a network is in place, future generations are stuck with that choice.  This would limit ...

After decades of operation, the Hippodrome, once known as Blue Bonnets, has closed its doors for good. Although this will have negative ramifications for Quebec's horse-breeding industry, it presents a great opportunity for urban development. The site is centrally located, just off the Décarie expressway and within walking distance of the Namur metro station. If developed properly, the site could be home to thousands of families who would likely use public transportation. The site as it stands now, is relatively isolated from neighboring residential areas. This isolation could be resolved by connecting the ...

The Program to equip Montreal's metro stations with elevators is now underway. What originally started in the new stations in Laval is being brought over to the island of Montreal. Firstly the major stations such as Lionel-Groulx will be addressed. I remember a couple years back when the Laval stations just opened, there were many who criticized the fact that the three stations had elevators. Where will people with reduced mobility go once they enter the station they asked. Well here is the answer, it only took a few more years but now people with ...

The main entrance into Cote-Saint-Luc, a city of 30 000 inhabitants surrounded on all sides by train-tracks is through the Cavendish underpass. This underpass  was constructed in the 1960s. Since then its capacity has long been reached due to several factors.  Firstly, there has been much construction of new Condo buildings along and beside Cavendish, and secondly there has been increase car usage since that time period. Most of the traffic that goes through the underpass ends up in the left turning lane, which heads towards fleet and eventually Decarie. In the morning rush hour, the left lane is clogged ...

The Mcgill University administration has of late come under criticism for their cycling restrictions in their downtown campus. Scenes of security guards enforcing the rules are now common.  However, despite the on campus restrictions, Mcgill students are fortunate to have several cycling links from the city to their campus.  The Mcgill Ghetto is crisscrossed with  designated bands. The southern and eastern flanks of the campus are served by the Maisonneuve and Park ave bike paths respectively.  Over on the other side of Mont Royal, the University of Montreal’s students are not so lucky. Although there are no restrictive measures in ...