Josh Freed: Candy infrastructure goals are impressed by the REM's success

Article content material

Might our new REM mild rail system be a turning level in Montreal and even perhaps Canadian historical past?

Tens of 1000’s of massively enthusiastic riders turned out in its first weeks. That was typical of summer time on this metropolis, the place something’s an excuse for a jam-packed social gathering — even the Pageant of Using a New Practice.

Article content material

However beneath the preliminary pleasure is one thing greater: our lengthy battered metropolis might lastly be able to dreaming once more, after a long time of slumber — whereas different cities dream with us.

Article content material

In latest weeks, I’ve heard repeatedly that Canadian and even U.S. city planners are abuzz about our new REM, as nobody has finished nearly something as bold in transport for many years.

Not to mention in simply 5 years.

As one world-famous B.C. urbanist tweeted: “One other BIG city-building win for #Montreal … 68 km. and 26 stations (to come back) … Seen as large success to exchange automobiles.”

The REM has gotten city specialists all over the place hoping this mission can break the logjam that has many cities afraid of main infrastructure goals — for good cause.

Final time Montreal was a dreamer’s city I used to be a young person throughout Expo 67, once we grew up believing huge city goals weren’t simply potential — they had been boringly regular.

In lower than a decade, we constructed Place Ville Marie, a world-stunning métro and a brand new seaway — then held a a lot celebrated world’s honest.

By the late ’60s, we had been virtually blasé about goals — too blasé. Thus got here Chapter 2, the 1976 Olympics when goals turned to nightmares.

There was the billion-dollar stadium that also poses the identical painful selection at this time: To be, or to be blown up, that’s the query? There have been the Velodrome and Olympic Village white elephants and Mirabel including to the herd.

Article content material

Article content material

As well, we bulldozed whole neighbourhoods with no public enter, blinded by overambition and glory. When the smoke from burning greenback payments cleared, it left most Quebecers feeling we couldn’t do any massive mission nicely.

We changed into a metropolis of cynics who measured each mission with a regular system: take the introduced funds and schedule, multiply by 2.5 — then anticipate worse.

For Montrealers, the phrase “mega” earlier than “mission” didn’t imply huge, it meant catastrophe.

We carried on fastidiously. We correctly constructed a modest however swish symphony corridor as a result of we had been terrified to suppose greater. We chickened out of a plan to blaze a path by heating Ste-Catherine Road’s sidewalks.

However in equity, different North American cities struggled with megaprojects, too. The Large Dig in Boston went massively over funds and took 15 years.

Ottawa’s mild rail line is a expensive debacle since opening, whereas Toronto’s much-tinier-than-our-REM new line remains to be below development after 13 years.

So pessimism about ”huge tasks gone unhealthy” has contaminated Canada and the U.S. and nitpicked most huge infrastructure goals to a standstill.

Article content material

The primary glimpse Montrealers had that issues may change was the brand new Champlain Bridge. After they first introduced the bridge, I believed it was one other fantasy that might be delayed endlessly — or for by no means.

Just like the endlessly talked-about imaginary quick prepare to New York.

However because the Champlain behemoth rose wondrously over the St. Lawrence River, it went up as effectively as a large Lego set — and many people felt stirrings of forgotten delight.

Even so, I remained skeptical concerning the REM, anticipating it to come back in 10 years late at 10 instances the estimated worth. As a substitute, it’s fairly near being on funds and schedule — particularly spectacular via a pandemic.

The driverless prepare is glossy, quick, ecologic and futuristic, crammed with excited passengers with faces pressed to the home windows.

There are small glitches and bigger noise issues to unravel. But when the REM works nicely and shortly provides its airport hyperlink, it may ignite extra goals, right here and throughout Canada.

Large infrastructure tasks are essential to cities’ futures, although they’re hardly ever in style when constructed. Paris’s now celebrated Pompidou Centre artwork gallery and even the Eiffel Tower had been hated of their day.

Article content material

We typically want daring tasks, however we’d like warning, too.

As one Toronto city professional informed me: “We are able to’t hold shying away from huge, typically inexperienced infrastructure tasks, however we additionally should be cautious to get them proper.”

If we expect greater (however not too huge), what may Montreal construct subsequent: the Pink Line Mayor Valérie Plante made up on a serviette? The Cavendish extension Montreal’s west enders have been promised for many years?

Overlaying Décarie and Ville Marie Expressways? Or our greatest fantasy: to see our neverendum roadwork truly endum?

What if Canada begins to suppose greater, too, stirred by the REM’s success? Might we construct that Montreal-Toronto quick prepare it looks like we’ve talked about since Confederation.

A Calgary-Edmonton one? Or greening our historic, inefficient nationwide energy grid?

Within the film Subject of Goals, they are saying: “Construct it and they’ll come.” Let’s hope the REM proves as huge a hit with passengers as it’s with city planners, and sparks a brand new age of pleasure, enthusiasm and nicely … cautious optimism.

Can the REM be our Subject of Goals?

[email protected]

Article content material

Article content material