At a press conference held on March 4, Premier François Legault announced his intention to invest in Quebec's infrastructure in order to reduce the province's economic dependence on the United States. This statement rekindled the expectations of a group of Vaudreuil-Soulanges citizens, who have been calling for the extension of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) to Vaudreuil-Dorion for several years.

With construction underway on the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, these citizens believe that the Legault government's announcement should be an incentive to integrate the REM into the project. “This is an opportunity for the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region,” says Louise Craig, a member of the citizens' group.

A project several years in the making

The idea of extending the REM into Vaudreuil-Soulanges is not new. In 2019, at a Hudson town council meeting, elected officials voted unanimously to ask the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC to support the proposal. 

That same year, Chantal Rouleau, then Minister responsible for the metropolis and region of Montreal, stated that the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge would be designed to accommodate an eventual extension of the REM or another form of mass transit.

“Ville de Saint-Lazare had also requested that all the mayors of the MRC officially support this initiative, and this was unanimously adopted,” recalls Louise Craig.

An alternative to congestion problems

Traffic issues on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge are well known to residents. With numerous lane reductions stretching over several months, travel to and from Montreal is becoming increasingly complicated.

“A new public transit alternative would be a major asset for the region. Every day, thousands of workers lose precious time in traffic,” says Ms. Craig.

She also deplores the fact that several municipalities in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, although part of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), contribute financially to the REM without benefiting directly from the service. “We already pay for the REM in other cities, but we don't even have access to it.“

A project requiring political commitment

According to Louise Craig, the realization of such a project requires a stronger commitment from municipal and regional elected officials. “We need the support of the mayors and the MRC, not to put the brakes on this initiative, but to push it forward. This type of project is a long-term vision that would benefit the entire region.”

She also stresses the importance of greater citizen involvement in the choice of municipal representatives. “It's not enough to elect someone who manages their city well. Our elected officials must also be capable of defending regional interests and bringing these issues to the provincial level.”

An uncertain future for the REM extension

Despite repeated requests and past promises, no concrete announcement has been made concerning the extension of the REM to Vaudreuil-Dorion. While Prime Minister Legault claims to want to invest in infrastructure, there's nothing to suggest that this project will be prioritized in the short term.

For citizens committed to this cause, hope remains, but future political action will be decisive for the future of public transport in the region.