Renewing our links with Mount Royal
Restricting traffic is not the same as reducing access to the mountain, Mayor Valérie Plante writes.
Each metropolis has its own “je ne sais quoi,” something that distinguishes it and makes it special. Montreal’s uniqueness comes from the fact that it is an island with a mountain in the centre. New York has its Central Park, we have our Mount Royal. This large jewel in the heart of the city is a natural beauty that needs to be protected and enhanced.
The ways in we which we live and move around in our cities are evolving. Families are looking for an escape while being able to stay in town. Being able to offer the public high-quality, safe and accessible parks, where it is a pleasure to walk and reconnect with nature, is at the heart of my vision for Montreal and Montrealers. I believe that large urban parks, such as Mount Royal, but also the islands of Parc Jean-Drapeau, are real oases that can transform a simple stroll into a moment of reflection and a rich and deep contact with nature.
Mount Royal has evolved significantly over the decades, and its modernization has undoubtedly been one of the least successful phases in its history. It should be noted that the initial vision of CamillienHoude Way was a “parkway” that was to be a drive through nature. There is no doubt that this era is long gone. Thousands of cars use this route every day. There are also major issues of safe cohabitation with more vulnerable users, the consequences of which we sadly witnessed just a short time ago. It is unacceptable to me that the lives of Montrealers should be put at risk while they frequent our mountain to walk, play sports or simply enjoy nature.
That is why we are setting up a pilot project to limit transit traffic on the mountain. In no way is this intended to reduce access. Instead we want to rebalance the space by limiting traffic flow to the two parking lots at the summit of Mount Royal. CamillienHoude Way will revert to being an access road to the park, as contemplated earlier in the report of a quarter of a century ago.
Restricting transit traffic on Mount Royal is not the same as restricting access to the mountain. The limitations and constraints are already significant. There are eight lanes of traffic that separate Jeanne Mance Park from Mount Royal Park.
This summer CamillienHoude Way will be 60 years old. This route through the heart of the mountain has the potential to become a pleasant, nature-rich and peaceful park path for thousands of pedestrians, cyclists and transit users. That desire was shared by a majority of Montrealers consulted by the Office de consultation publique de Montréal during its work on the future of our mountain. It is also a will and desire that was included in the Mount Royal Master Plan in 2008 and 2013.
Moreover, in 2008, the transport plan adopted by the municipal government of the time was already talking about the need to change our perspective. It stated that “the space dedicated to the automobile is predominant and that radical change is needed in order to balance the needs in terms of mobility and protection of living environments.” With specific reference to the CamillienHoude route, in 2008 the following was highlighted: “Measures should be taken to reduce this traffic by transit and to ensure the tranquillity and safety of park users.”
Ten years later, we are at the crossroads of this action, and the expected gestures have not yet been attained or achieved, but we do have the political will to go forward and make them a reality.
Let’s make our mountain a meeting place where we can have fun, train and enjoy family and friends. Let’s give this pilot project a chance. After all, its main objective is to make the mountain a more safe and friendly experience.
Valérie Plante is the mayor of Montreal.