MEETING MINUTES

Signature on the Saint-Laurent G.P. 8 Place du Commerce, suite 300 Montreal, Québec Canada H3E 1N3 Tel.: 514 866-0600 Fax: 514 390-6533

Report No.: 03_CBV-VSO Project Name: Verdun/Sud-Ouest Good Neighbourly Relations Committee for the New Champlain Bridge Corridor Project

EMDS Reference No.: 181201-A0000-3RMB-000004 Project No.: 181201

Date of Meeting: April 7, 2016 Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Location: 1055 rue d’Hibernia, Centre Saint-Charles Room: Gym

In attendance: Partner members: Vincent Jarry, Senior Director, New Bridge for the St. Lawrence, Infrastructure Canada (INFC) Jean-François Parenteau, Mayor of the Borough of Verdun Benoit Dorais, Mayor of the Sud-Ouest Borough James Byrns, Ville de Montréal Signature on the Saint-Laurent (SSL) team: Dan Genest, Director, Coordination

Citizen members: Seraya Speer Hubert Fortin Philippe Dubeau François Labelle Natacha Alexandroff Sarah Chouinard Michael Ryan Wiseman Marie-Josée Béliveau Daniela Villatora Billy Walsh

C.C.: Mario Langlois, Anne-Marie Gagné and Daniel Brasseur Subject: Good Neighbourly Relations Committee Meeting Minutes

Numbering of the articles: The first digit represents the number of the meeting covered in the minutes. The second digit represents the number of the meeting at which the article was discussed for the first time. The third digit refers to the chapter number The fourth digit refers to the article number discussed.

Point # Subject Follow-through

Date/Status

1. Opening of the session

1.1. Reiteration of committee members, presentation of agenda, and review of job site visit on April 1 with the members of the Good Neighbourly Relations Committee.

2. Presentation of the work completed, underway and to come

2.1 Mr. Genest presented the work already completed, underway and planned until June. A paper copy of the presentation was given to every committee member and a PDF of the presentation was posted on the website: http://www.nouveauchamplain.ca/neightbourhood/7-avril-2016/

3. Follow-up on action and measures

3.1 Lighting in Pointe-Nord area: a follow-up was done and adjustments were made to the job site spotlights. There was an additional request regarding the brightness of spotlights when driving northbound on René-Lévesque Blvd.

SSL Precedence

3.2 Permanent anti-noise wall for the Butler area: assessment under way and update at the next Good Neighbourly Relations Committee meeting Temporary anti-noise wall for the May area: over a distance of 800 metres, there are 2.4-metre-high temporary anti-noise walls between LaSalle and Wellington. Also, a solution needs to be found for the May / Wellington area between Jacques-Lauzon and Wellington streets. Following the meeting, it was confirmed that there would be a 4.8-metre-high wall between Jacques-Lauzon and Wellington.

SSL June 8

3.3 Greenhouse gas emissions offsetting: SSL / INFC / Ville de Montréal are involved in discussions in view of optimizing the contribution as part of the Canopé action plan to

INFC

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Point # Subject Follow-through

Date/Status

offset greenhouse gas emissions. Infrastructure Canada is prioritizing greenhouse gas emissions offsetting near the project, but must continue discussions with SSL and the boroughs to concretely determine how this will be done (e.g. types of trees).

3.4 4th lane for Nuns’ Island Bridge: possibility of creating a fourth lane by using part of the shoulder without widening the bridge. Search for a technical solution without modifying the structure of the bridge.

INFC

3.5 Conversion of bypass bridge: Bypass bridge needed for buses even after the new bridge has been commissioned and before LRS has been implemented. Through various stakeholders (City of Montreal and JCCBI), INFC is reflecting on the future of the bypass bridge (7 lanes and 3.4-metre-wide bicycle path) to be developed over a 10-year period. Technical issues need to be taken into account in the decision-making process as of now regarding, among other aspects, the co-existence of the bridge and park and the local and regional links to the network. A follow-up will be done at the Good Neighbourly Relations Committee meeting where new information will be released.

INFC When there is new information

3.6 Access to Nuns’ Island channel for Pointe-Saint-Charles residents: this file was transferred to the City of Montreal’s urban planning department and will be included in the Havre area planning file in order to find a solution.

VdM

4. Question period for Committee members

Questions Answers

4.1 Possibility of reviewing the routes of trucks that use Centre Street and pass through Pointe-Saint-Charles with the new corridor and the remodelling of the Atwater Interchange.

SSL has a warehouse in Pointe-Saint-Charles for the past month and suppliers were going through the Sud-Ouest borough. Following this issue communicated by a citizen-member, we provided the route to be taken via Marc-Cantin to avoid having truck traffic in the neighbourhood. It is important to report any particular issues to us so that we can make the necessary changes. Mr. Byrns from the City of Montreal will confirm whether Centre Street is recognized as a truck road and will review trucking routes with the borough and present a follow-up at the next Good Neighbourly Relations Committee meeting.

VdM

June 15

4.2 Siting determined for greenhouse gas emissions offsetting.

Mr. Jarry mentioned that the government has not yet reached this stage of the process. INFC is currently working on the concept and the boroughs are better informed to site future planting areas, if this is what is decided. Mr. Parenteau noted that there is excellent cooperation on this issue and that it is first and foremost a collective project. The partners are looking for innovative and sustainable solutions.

INFC Fall 2016

4.3 Impact of Butler and Argenson closure on increased truck traffic in the neighbourhood and on Centre Street, which is not a truck road.

Mr. Byrns from the City of Montreal will enquire about the truck routes resulting from these closures and will look at what can be done to improve the situation.

VdM June 15

4.4 Details on the fourth lane (e.g. direction, for emergency vehicle use) of

Current discussions are centered on determining whether with traffic modeling for future years and technical issues such as drainage the proposed shoulder can be turned into

INFC

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Point # Subject Follow-through

Date/Status

the Nuns’ Island bridge a fourth lane over 500 metres. These details will be provided through the study that is under way.

4.5 Finding a solution so that Champlain Bridge-bound traffic on Hwy-15 South does not block access to the Atwater exit.

Issue brought up again during Geneviève Campeau’s presentation.

5. Update on other major projects by Infrastructure Canada: Turcot, Bonaventure and the light rail system (LRS)

5.1 Mr. Jarry mentioned that coordination with other major projects is continuing for both the Turcot project and LRS. With respect to LRS, which falls under provincial jurisdiction, technical discussions need to be continued to ensure that the new bridge can accommodate an LRS.

INFC

5.2 For the Bonaventure project, Mr. Byrns mentioned that the layout for the downtown area will be maintained until July. Traffic will then be diverted via Duke until the fall and winter 2016 and the work will create congestion and slowdowns. There is still one more year of work for the rebuilding of the Bonaventure Expressway, part of which which will be brought to ground level.

5.0 Presentation on urban mobility and integration management

5.1 Ms. Campeau presented the main disruptions in the Gaétan-Laberge area to be expected this summer. The main disruption will be the closure of Exit 60 on Hwy-15 North starting in July 2016 and lasting one year. The work method chosen for the Gaétan-Laberge interchange will minimize the duration of the impacts on mobility through the reopening of the entire area by June 2017. The full presentation can be found at: http://www.nouveauchamplain.ca/neightbourhood/7-avril-2016/

5.2 Mr. Beaulac presented the current proposals being discussed with the City of Montreal regarding the LaSalle/Argenson overpass and work in the May area. For the Lasalle overpass, the proposal (including abutment walls that are still under review) indicates that the area should have more lighting and be user-friendly and safe. Regarding May Street, the street is considered being placed between the highway wall and the homes in order to share the grass strips and the trees planted on either side of the street. A straight pedestrian walkway will connect Wellington Street to May Street. Landscaping is being planned consisting of vines and shrubs. The full presentation is available at: http://www.nouveauchamplain.ca/neightbourhood/7-avril-2016/ Ms. Thompson presented the concept proposed by the City of Montreal, which consists in showing former residences via ground markings on May Street and installing structures reminiscent of the homes on May Street. She presented several types of ground impressions, including structures in Old Montreal, at Université de Montréal and in various cities worldwide. She spoke about the possibility of modifying Rushbrooke Street to make it narrower so that trees can be planted on one side of the street.

6.0 Question period for Committee members

Questions Answers

6.1 Concerns about mobility and traffic in the Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood (Exit 61) and cyclist safety. Long wait at traffic lights.

Between now and July, temporary redevelopment of the Atwater interchange, including a protected pedestrian walkway, will make traffic lanes safer in order to allow a larger volume of traffic in the area. Hydro-Québec work on Lasalle/Argenson and municipal work on Saint-Patrick are being carried out now so as to

SSL

June 15

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Point # Subject Follow-through

Date/Status

not be in conflict with SSL’s work. For now, this is certainly the worst part to overcome. Starting in July, the new redevelopment should ease traffic conditions. Mr. Parenteau indicated that the next few years will be hard and there are no magic solutions, but efforts are being made to minimize the impact. Mr. Genest suggested inviting a City of Montreal mobility expert to specifically talk about the St-Patrick and Thomas-Keefer areas. Mr. Byrns confirmed that the City of Montreal would follow up to make sure that detour lanes and the measures that have been implemented are efficient. If necessary, additional measures will be used (e.g. police presence, use of additional traffic lights).

VdM

June 15

6.2 Impact of closures on local traffic in Verdun (Atwater, Galt, De L’Église).

Mr. Genest reiterated that the next years will be difficult from a mobility standpoint. Despite cooperation among the major projects and planning, construction on these projects will be done in tandem and there is no clear easy solution.

6.3 Planning access to the St. Lawrence for Pointe Saint-Charles starting now, given the timetable for Gaétan Laberge Blvd., which will be built next year.

Mr. Byrns explained that the new boulevard will have a bicycle path and traffic lights to enable active transportation. The City understands Pointe-Saint-Charles residents’ vision, and this is currently under review. Mr. Parenteau mentioned the efforts being made by the Blue Route / Green and Blue Belt project, and noted that the City is trying to improve water access. He confirmed that access to the St. Lawrence for Pointe-Saint-Charles residents is under discussion.

VdM

6.4 Details on detour lanes to compensate for the closure of the Hwy-10 exit and the impact on Nuns’ Island traffic.

A temporary on-ramp should be created to bring motorists directly onto Hwy-10 without having to go through Nuns’ Island, with very little impact on the road network.

6.4 Benches placed outside the overpass, maintenance and cleaning of graffiti, and responsibility for plants and cleanliness.

Bench placement was discussed with the City of Montreal, and the benches were placed at the overpass exit to take advantage of natural lighting. Regarding graffiti, SSL must propose anti-graffiti coatings and is in charge of infrastructure maintenance. The inside overpass walls are under discussion with a view to discouraging graffiti in this area. Vines are a good solution for the outside walls, but SSL/INFC/City of Montreal are looking for an optimal solution for graffiti on the inside walls.

SSL

6.5 Efficiency of special lighting for cyclists under the overpass.

Slide 11 submitted for the lighting does not fully reflect reality. Road lighting will be used for both cyclists and motorists. A photometric study is currently under way where a certain lux value is required under the overpasses.

SSL

290.3 Suggestions for improvement: inefficient positioning of benches, extension of bicycle path mesh to Gilberte Dubé, commemoration of May Street (broadened in the Poudrière area)

SSL

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Point # Subject Follow-through

Date/Status

under the overpass and more original treatment such as LED walls/lighting/integrated photographs, landscaping for the entire area, not only Rushbrooke (Jacques Lauzon), and a more creative approach. Mr. Beaulac mentioned that the murals under the overpasses will not have a long life given the humidity levels.

6.7 Extension of mesh for cyclists under the overpasses to counter the glare effect, and several residents were seen to leave before the end of the meeting.

Mr. Genest acknowledged that the meeting lasted longer than anticipated and that the presentation of two topics extended the session. Adjustments will be made with a view to ensuring continuous improvement.

SSL June 15

7.0 Question period for the public

Questions Answers

7.1 Increase in traffic flow on Hwy-15 and siting of permanent anti-noise walls.

There will be permanent anti-noise walls between Lasalle and Wellington in Verdun. For the Sud-Ouest borough, the noise study is under way, but the noise is mainly generated by the railway line, which creates a barrier for highway noise.

SSL

7.2 Landscaping planned in the Poudrière area following the closer proximity of Hwy-15, clearing of the area, and the loss of the bicycle path.

A permanent anti-noise wall in the Poudrière area will improve the area’s sound environment. Once the road has been widened, the area will undergo revegetation. Eventually we will do a presentation on landscaping for the entire corridor.

SSL

7.3 Wi-Fi access. This was noted.

7.4 Access to the new bridge for cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr. Genest confirmed that the new bridge will have a multi-use path that will allow both cyclists and pedestrians to access both shores. Several other active transportation improvements are being proposed for the corridor.

7.4 Search for innovative greening solutions based on the specific characteristics of Pointe-Saint-Charles (increase in cardio-respiratory impact, urban density/heat islands, dust and noise, ragweed/social integration).

Mr. Genest mentioned that SSL has agreed to repay the equivalent of 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and that planned measures include landscaping and roadside revegetation. However, how these greenhouse gas emissions will be offset is being discussed by the City of Montreal and Infrastructure Canada. Mr. Jarry mentioned that the sites must be maintained and landscaped, and the contract indicates that ragweed may be present. Infrastructure Canada is fully aware that this issue has to be addressed in a creative manner and that one of the solutions is to provide offsetting near the corridor, but the situation will not be resolved before 2019, the year when the bridge and the corridor will be commissioned.

INFC

7.5 Possibility of making Rushbrooke a two-way

Mr. Cardin explained that because of the parking lot and bicycle path, Gilberte-Dubé can only be a one-way street.

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Point # Subject Follow-through

Date/Status

street. The citizen mentioned that many motorists park in this area all day in order to take the Metro. Mr. Parenteau invited the citizen to provide his contact information, and Mr. Cardin and Mr. Parenteau will set up a meeting with neighbourhood residents to find a solution.

VdM

June 15

7.6 Amount of compensation provided to the aboriginal community and commemoration for the Le Ber Site. Suggestion: develop the project associated with the Le Ber Site while enhancing the Manoir des Sœurs site.

Mr. Jarry stated that during the impact study, the aboriginal communities that use the St. Lawrence River had to be consulted and an amount was given to them to support them in the study of the environmental assessment process. For the Le Ber Site, Mr. Jarry noted the exhaustive archeological study conducted on the Le Ber Site, including 3D surveys. Even though the site no longer exists and that its historical quality was low, the study resulted in major archives. Stones were recovered, and at the urban integration workshops with the City of Montreal, there was talk about commemorating the Le Ber Site at the western abutment of the new bridge.

Verdun

7.7 Yellow logo for cyclists and fairly wide proposed detours for cyclists.

The main disruptions for cyclists are on the La Riveraine bike path on the South Shore as well as on the St. Lawrence Seaway dike. In Montreal, cycling links are maintained and detour lanes will be implemented when needed.

7.8 Importance of access to the St. Lawrence for Pointe-Saint-Charles residents.

Ms. Alexandroff raised the point this evening. Mr. Jarry and Mr. Byrns will provide a follow-up on this issue.

INFC / VdM

8. Adjournment

8.1 Next meetings A public information meeting will be held on May 25 in Verdun (Salle du Conseil, Verdun borough office, 4555 Verdun). The next Committee meeting will be held on June 15 on Nuns’ Island (Centre Elgar) and will cover the topic of the main traffic disruptions for 2016 and progress made with respect to urban integration.

Next meeting: Wednesday, June 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Nuns’ Island Borough (Centre communautaire Elgar).

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