“Only here in Quebec are we close minded”

The current metro plan would close the orange line loop by connecting Côte Vertu and Montmorency stations. It would add five new stations for Laval residents. The new stations include: Souvenir, St. Martin, Le Carrefour, Notre Dame, and Chomedey.

This will involve the acquisition of an additional 126 metro cars (14 trains of nine cars) at a projected cost of about $230 million for the 5.2 km underground extension.

Bordeleau rejected this project as a waste of money and said that there is a better way to improve transportation that would cost taxpayers less.

“My proposed tramway idea will cost seven times less per kilometre, cover more space of the Laval region and be completed a lot sooner than if we have to dig more tunnels,” Bordeleau asserted. “We can’t start the metro project without finance and equipment like Montreal has, but we don’t have it.”

Bordeleau’s streetcar vision will involve 11 lines, reaching to the far end of the east side Laval.

He stated that his plan would blanket the entire Laval area and be completed in four to five phases. Bordeleau added that other provinces like Ontario and Alberta are using this means of transportation, as well.

“We’re in the 21st century,” reminded Bordeleau. “This is the future of transportation, we have to think of the future. Everyone else is doing, so why isn’t Quebec?”

Bordeleau claimed that he first made this proposal in 2006, but he received no positive response.

“Only here in Quebec are we close minded” Bordeleau said. “[Politicians] don’t think about citizens. They put politics first, and citizens, when they have the chance.”