[NoahB]

It also seems silly to suggest that not grade separating would reduce costs. In the long run, you end up spending more on labour costs anyways.

My personal worry is that they would not, in fact, pay the labour cost and instead end up with a low-frequency line. That could happen because the labour cost to ridership ratio might not be there for a slower LRT in the suburbs.

Keep in mind that the line is 32km but only expected to have a ridership of 29k. They will need a lot of vehicles to cover that distance at anything better than every 10 minutes. CDPQs plan was to run tiny automated trains to make high frequency work cost effectively.

 

[turini2]

La Presse.

Also from La Presse today, Legault is looking to have a new agency to fast track transit projects, might be the end of the ARTM. He's pretty explicit in how he can't fathom the replacement of the REM de l'Est with the 36G$ proposal.

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...er-une-agence-pour-le-transport-collectif.php here's the link fyi

 

[T3G]

... not having to build grade separations?

They literally announced that the whole line will be buried, ie, it is fully grade separated. Where do you think that $36B price tag came from?

Perhaps that's something they will revisit now. I can't imagine where else any price savings will come from.

 

[DirectionNorth]

Perhaps that's something they will revisit now. I can't imagine where else any price savings will come from.

Uhm, elevating the route through low-density suburbs?

Do we know how long the platforms are with this $36 billion proposal? That might be another place to save money.

I don't think CPDQi will accept a non-grade-separated route. If they have to pay for operations, spending some extra money on elevated vs. surface will save them lots of operational costs in the long term. If the province/ARTM/Montreal wants to take up the project, anything could happen.

 

[SashaLemon]

Yep. A big part of the CDPQs game plan is low operating costs due to automation. They will never accept a Toronto style tram project.

 

[robmausser]

Yep. A big part of the CDPQs game plan is low operating costs due to automation. They will never accept a Toronto style tram project.

Automated trams are probably 10 years away though, so eventually they might.

 

[SashaLemon]

Automated trams are probably 10 years away though, so eventually they might.

Hmmm I wonder if there is some kind of automated transit technology currently operating in Montreal that could be used here?

Oh well!

 

[T3G]

Uhm, elevating the route through low-density suburbs?

Do we know how long the platforms are with this $36 billion proposal? That might be another place to save money.

I don't think CPDQi will accept a non-grade-separated route. If they have to pay for operations, spending some extra money on elevated vs. surface will save them lots of operational costs in the long term. If the province/ARTM/Montreal wants to take up the project, anything could happen.

the article that was quoted specifically referred to cost savings as a result of nixing automation, though. There was nothing stopping them from elevating the route or shortening the platforms even if the trains were self driving. Hard to fathom what other ways having drivers would lead to cost savings that didn't exist before.

 

[Coolstar]

A tramway is now being studied as an option for East Montréal.

Est de Montréal | Un projet de tramway à l’étude

L’Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) étudie l’option de construire un tramway dans l’est de Montréal, projet qui n’avait pas encore été révélé au grand public jusqu’ici.

www.lapresse.ca

 

[chronicsurfer]

Pfffft. More studies. The Pie-IX SRB should've been a tram line, the frequency is not great outside peak hours! And this obsession with elevated rail viaducts being ugly and hence not acceptable is funny considering how the same seems to be okay for automobiles. One should go take a look at the eyesore of Autoroute 40.

 

[SashaLemon]

The ARTM should "study" how to dissolve themselves as an agency.

"Stepping over dollars to save pennies since 2017"

 

[p_xavier]

Plante is opposed to the idea. Which is really surprising coming from her IMO.

Tramway dans l’est de Montréal | Plante accueille froidement l’idée

La mairesse Valérie Plante a accueilli froidement l’idée de transformer le projet structurant de l’Est (ex-REM de l’Est) en réseau de tramway, vendredi.

www.lapresse.ca

 

[felix123]

Plante is opposed to the idea. Which is really surprising coming from her IMO.

Tramway dans l’est de Montréal | Plante accueille froidement l’idée

La mairesse Valérie Plante a accueilli froidement l’idée de transformer le projet structurant de l’Est (ex-REM de l’Est) en réseau de tramway, vendredi.

www.lapresse.ca

I'm guessing she regrets caving to the NIMBY's.

 

[p_xavier]

I'm guessing she regrets caving to the NIMBY's.

I really don't know what Legault will do. The jab he made during the REM's opening at the expense of Plante and his recent remarks towards the ARTM means he's losing patience a lot.

 

[felix123]

I really don't know what Legault will do. The jab he made during the REM's opening at the expense of Plante and his recent remarks towards the ARTM means he's losing patience a lot.

If Legault is really in charge, expect nothing for the inner-west neighbourhoods (NDG, CSL, etc.) no matter the density or ridership they'd bring to the network. It's comical how that guy tries to balance economics with his weird brand of nationalism.

I think that if REM de l'est survives at all, it'll be grade-separated and automated, as both the mayor and premier seem opposed to the tramway. REM's tech is also looking good with its 99% on-time performance to date.