Montréal, September 17, 2014 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal would like to have all the facts about the impact on traffic of a possible toll on the Champlain Bridge. It once again calls on the federal government to offer a clear demonstration that there will be no negative impact on traffic on other links between the South Shore and Montréal.
“The numbers reported in the media in the past few days concerning the impact of a Champlain Bridge toll on displacing traffic to other links between the South Shore and Montréal are contradictory and causing confusion,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “With a toll of $2.60 to $3.90, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Office estimates that between 6% and 10% of traffic will be routed to other bridges. But a figure is also circulating of 35% of traffic rerouted to the Victoria Bridge. The government must make public any information that is available and initiate new studies if necessary.”
“The city’s business community accepted the idea of a toll on the new Champlain Bridge provided the federal government demonstrate that there will be no additional congestion on other South Shore bridges,” Michel Leblanc said. “Yet some of the figures bandied about in the media suggest the contrary, and if this information is correct, the Board of Trade asks the federal government to postpone its decision. We cannot consider a toll on one access to the city if this increases already heavy traffic on neighbouring bridges.”
The Board of Trade also asks the federal government to work with the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal to conduct studies on the best way to finance not only the new bridge, but also all road and public transit infrastructures in the region.
“Financing for the bridge cannot be limited to a simplistic application of the principle of user pay,” Mr. Leblanc said. “The bridge will not be operational before 2018. Let’s take the time to conduct an in-depth, careful analysis to measure the real impact of each source of financing on traffic.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
- 30 -
Source:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambremontreal
Twitter: @chambremontreal
Follow the discussion: #ccmmqcca