At the end of September, Montréal will begin construction of a permanent railroad crossing between Ogilvy and De Castelnau streets. The crossing, which will be open to the general public, will improve mobility and quality of life for Parc-Extension residents.
"The level crossing between Ogilvy and De Castelnau is essential to open up the area and ensure safe access to the Parc train station, the STM network, as well as to local businesses and services,” said Montréal Mayor Valérie Plante. “Montréal has used every resource available to accelerate creation of this permanent, universally accessible crossing, which will include a pedestrian crosswalk and a bike path. It’s a concrete gain for both Parc-Extension residents and everyone that travels in the area,"
According to current rail regulations, the inter-platform link previously available was only for users of the Parc station. Construction of a permanent level crossing will provide a direct, safe and universally accessible link for everyone in the area.
The agreement between Montréal, EXO and CP states that the City will assume full responsibility for the design and construction of the crossing. This includes preparation of the surface on both sides of the platform link to ensure universal access, installation of removable bicycle baffles, bollards and signage, marking of the bike lane, and repair of the sidewalk at the intersection of Mile End Street and the crossing. The work is scheduled to begin on September 27 and is expected to take one month.
Recognizing the public's desire to have access to the crossing as soon as possible, Montréal, EXO and CPR have been working together to find a temporary solution until the permanent crossing is opened. Unfortunately, after several weeks of discussions, such a solution was not in compliance with the railway safety law, which is under federal jurisdiction.
The project has the support of the Ministère des Transports du Québec, which granted the City financial assistance for construction of the Ogilvy level crossing. Montréal will be entitled to a maximum reimbursement of 50% of eligible costs under the Programme d'aide financière au développement des transports actifs dans les périmètres urbains.
