Latest news with #CatherineFournier
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Longueuil, Brossard reveal complete redesign of Taschereau Boulevard
Taschereau Boulevard, a major thoroughfare on Montreal's South Shore, could be about to undergo a significant transformation. The cities of Longueuil and Brossard jointly released their preliminary vision for a comprehensive overhaul of the boulevard on Monday morning. 'We are aware that the redevelopment of Taschereau has been hotly debated in recent years and that several versions of this project have emerged in the past, but they lacked consistency,' said Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier. 'This project will mark a fundamental transformation for the area: moving from a motorway-style thoroughfare to a green, friendly and safe urban boulevard, lined with new neighbourhoods, local shops and office space.' The revitalization is expected to span from the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke terminus in Longueuil and the Panama terminus in Brossard, complete with a rapid bus service (SRB). 'With more than 58,000 daily trips between Brossard and Longueuil — making Taschereau Boulevard the fifth busiest corridor in Quebec — a major transformation is needed,' the press release notes. 'Issues related to climate change and the unprecedented housing crisis reinforce the need to establish a structuring link between the two cities.' According to the mayors, 221 hectares of land could be redeveloped to create 'complete and connected living environments with a redesigned architectural identity, where concrete will give way to a greener, more integrated and attractive environment.' 'Transforming Taschereau Boulevard is no longer an option. It is a necessity to reconcile mobility, quality of life, safety and urban attractiveness,' said Brossard Mayor Doreen Assaad. 'Unlike megaprojects that get bogged down, our approach is simple, realistic and ready to be implemented.' Taschereau Boulevard A map showing the route of the complete redesign of Taschereau Boulevard. (Ville de Longueuil) The plan proposes creating up to 12,000 homes, including affordable housing, rentals, condos and more, as well as adding 55,000 m² of offices and other commercial spaces. The project also includes a dedicated bike lane and walkway, as well as upgraded water and sewer networks. 'We are confident that we are finally on the right track, one that will allow us to move forward,' said Fournier. 'While the scale of the redevelopment is considerable, I am convinced that with the support of all our partners, we will be able to deliver a project of the highest caliber, in line with the aspirations of the people of Longueuil, Brossard and the entire region.' The project is in collaboration with Transports Quebec, the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL), the Autorité régionale du transport métropolitain (ARTM), and more. Next steps include conducting 'preliminary studies for underground infrastructure' in addition to sourcing resident input 'at key stages.'
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Play ball: Longueuil suspends new $100 fee for non-residents in women's softball league
A women's softball league has been playing at Greenfield Park for decades, but new city rules are a hurdle. (Courtesy Jessie Howarth) It looks like players in a beloved women's softball league who aren't Longueuil residents will be able to play ball after all. The city had initially told non-residents that they would have to pay an extra $100 for an access card to play in the Greenfield Park ladies softball league, which is made up of four teams of women of all ages and skill levels and is entirely volunteer-run. Last Thursday, CTV News spoke to members of the league who were upset by the new policy, saying it was putting their league, which has been around for decades, in jeopardy. But on Monday, the City of Longueuil announced that it was suspending the new policy 'pending a review.' Members already pay a $100 league fee to rent the field for 12 games and pay an umpire, and some players complained that they couldn't afford the added cost. In a written statement issued Monday, Mayor Catherine Fournier acknowledged that the impacts of the rule that went into force on April 1 raised 'significant concerns on the ground,' which were shared by elected officials. 'In consultation with all members of the city council and the Greenfield Park borough council, we have agreed to suspend the application of this aspect of the policy while we conduct a broader review of the issue to address the concerns of the Longueuil community,' the mayor said. She said the changes will be submitted for adoption at borough council meetings in the coming days and at the city council meeting on June 10. The city added that non-residents who already paid the extra $100 fee will be reimbursed and noted that the requirement for non-residents to have Accès Longueuil cards for activities organized by the City, such as swimming lessons, is not affected by Tuesday's announcement.
CBC
28-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Longueuil to lower speed limit on all residential streets, take new approach to safety
The city of Longueuil, on Montreal's South Shore, is reducing the speed limit on all residential streets to 30 km/h starting in January of next year. It is also putting in place new traffic calming measures across the city. The changes are part of an overall effort to get drivers to slow down, city officials said Tuesday. "This is where people go for a walk, go for a picnic, hang out with their neighbours. Kids play in the street. So we want to make people safer," said Jonathan Tabarah, a Longueuil city councillor. From now on, instead of responding to individual citizen requests for traffic-calming measures, the Longueuil administration will adopt a sector-based approach. The city found that in certain neighbourhoods, particularly those that are socio-economically disadvantaged, residents were making fewer requests to improve local safety. That's why a more systemic approach to neighbourhood safety is needed, said Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier. "We're shifting from a reactive model to a science-based method guided by recommendations from our teams," she said. The city cited research that found pedestrians struck by a vehicle have a 90 per cent survival rate when the vehicle is travelling at 30 km/h or less. If the vehicle is going 50 km/h, that survival rate drops to 25 per cent, said Gabrielle Manseau, a senior advisor with Montérégie public health. If the vehicle is an SUV or the pedestrian already has physical limitations, their chances of survival are even lower, he said. Sector by sector approach For this initiative, Longueuil has been divided into 15 neighbourhoods, which will be reviewed one by one to reassess safety infrastructure. Those include speed humps, speed radar signs, new traffic signs, road markings to narrow lanes, added pedestrian crossings and, in the longer term, raised intersections and permanent curb extensions. The first sector to be analyzed is Maricourt–Castle Gardens in Saint-Hubert, as it is representative — due to its school zones and types of streets — of what exists in other parts of Longueuil, the city said. Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Vieux-Longueuil will be reviewed next. Over time, the Fournier administration plans to expand its teams so it can accelerate the pace of the safety rollout. A third measure announced Tuesday is the construction of around 100 permanent speed humps every year, starting next year. Fournier believes this more systemic approach to neighbourhood safety will lead to gains in both efficiency and cost savings, though she acknowledged it's hard to quantify. She said the city will still respond to citizen concerns and to urgent situations, like those near schools. But this new system will help the city address issues in a timely manner, rather than trying to respond to concerns one at a time. When her team took office at city hall in 2021, she said there was a backlog of about 600 citizen requests.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Longueuil reducing speed limit to 30 km/h in local streets
As of 2026, motorists won't be able to drive faster than 30 kilometres per hour in Longueuil's local streets. The city on Montreal's South Shore announced the speed reduction Tuesday as part of a series of traffic calming measures to improve safety. Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier said lowering the speed limit helps to significantly reduce serious injuries. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 30 km/h limits where traffic mixes with vulnerable road users. 'It's a practical, tried and tested and internationally recognized way of protecting the most vulnerable, especially children, the elderly and people on foot or by bike,' Fournier said. The change will be submitted to the city council for formal adoption. Other changes will be on a case-by-case basis depending on the district. These include new panels and signs, road markings and other measures to make intersections safer. School zones will also be revamped with speed radars, cycling links and improved signage. The city says it also plans to install over 100 new speed bumps throughout its territory by 2026 to ensure drivers respect the new speed limits. 'Reducing speed and traffic not only reduces collisions and injuries, it also reduces stress, noise and exposure to poor air quality,' said Gabrielle Manseau with Montérégie Public Health in a news release. 'These calmer, safer environments encourage walking and cycling, which promote a more active lifestyle, reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve mental health. By creating streets that are more user-friendly and accessible, we reinforce the feeling of safety, social cohesion and inclusion.'
Montreal Gazette
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Letters: What if we assigned schools double duty?
In the late 1960s, the West Island was experiencing rapid growth, leading to a shortage of space in high schools. Before Pierrefonds Community High School opened in 1971, many students attended Villa Nova in Pointe-Claire, which operated on a double-shift system — whereby two groups of students are accommodated each day, the first from morning until midday, the second from midday to late afternoon. Both groups received around five hours of teaching per day, as mandated by the Education Act. If memory serves: from 7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. This structure allows schools to efficiently utilize their facilities, including classrooms, laboratories and recreational areas, ensuring they serve a larger number of students without the need for additional infrastructure. I see no reason today why this type of teaching and learning environment cannot succeed at a time when the government is under pressure to build new schools and renovate existing ones. Chris Eustace, Pierrefonds Shine a light on spending Thank you to Catherine Fournier, the courageous mayor of Longueuil, for daring to question the incredibly high cost of infrastructure projects in Quebec. There can be no doubt that $1 million to install a traffic light is completely unreasonable and unacceptable. Something must be done because our roads are crumbling, hospitals are inadequate to meet the needs of the population, and cuts in the education system threaten catastrophe in our schools. It is time to hold our government accountable for where money is being spent. Sandra Sterling, Snowdon Heed U.S. lesson and vote I agree wholeheartedly with my fellow citizen, who challenged Americans to stop apologizing and do something in the 2026 midterm elections. The U.S. has basically ignored Canada and looked down on Mexico as a reservoir of cheap labour, failing to recognize either country as an invaluable friend and ally. It's sad that U.S. voters are often being painted with one brush, but they have only themselves to blame. We Canadians should take a hint and be sure to vote in our elections at all levels. By not voting, we are relinquishing our right to have a say in our government. If you don't feel that your priorities are being met by any of the parties, suck it up and choose the one you think will do the least damage. Get involved with a party that might be open to your values, or form your own party with like-minded citizens. Do whatever you can to protect our democracy, and don't leave it up to someone else. Iris Shestowsky, Montreal Stunning antics in the Oval Office There are many negative adjectives used to describe Donald Trump. However, having just watched Wednesday's televised Oval Office meeting between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, no words can describe the embarrassment all Americans should feel at having this man represent them on the world stage. Michael Green, Côte-St-Luc Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@ We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one. Letters should be sent uniquely to us. The shorter they are — ideally, fewer than 200 words — the greater the chance of publication. Timing, clarity, factual accuracy and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation. We reserve the right to edit and condense all letters. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer's argument. Our policy is not to publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms or 'open letters' addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author's full name and city or neighbourhood/borough of residence. Include a phone number and address to help verify identity; these will not be published. We will not indicate to you whether your letter will be published. If it has not been published within 10 days or so, it is not likely to be.
