Mount Royal traffic plan will go to public consultation after all

The City of Montreal is changing its tune when it comes to holding a public consultation about the controversial plan to block through traffic on Mount Royal.

Mayor Valérie Plante said the consultations will happen "before, during and after" the pilot project to make a stretch of Camillien-Houde Way off limits to motorists — but the plan will still go ahead.

Marvin Rotrand, a city councillor for the borough, said he expected the motion to be defeated. He said he was surprised when Projet Montréal proposed amendments and backed the motion after staunchly defending the plan over the past month. 

"In the last days, obviously something changed," he said.

Opposition leader Lionel Perez, who proposed the motion, said holding a public consultation is a "victory for all Montrealers."

The pilot project is set to take place from June 1 to Oct. 31, 2018.

Stiff opposition and criticism

The pilot project, announced in February, will make a 800-metre stretch of Camillien-Houde Way off limits to motorists.

The road would be blocked to through traffic between Smith House and Beaver Lake parking lots.

The decision came after an 18-year-old cyclist, Clément Ouimet, died when he collided with an SUV that pulled a U-turn in front of his bicycle on Camillien-Houde last year.

While Plante has stood by her pilot project, the plan has faced stiff criticism.

Opponents argue it will reduce access to the mountain and create a barrier between the city's east and west ends.

"I think it's wise to step back and say a significant number of citizens have spoken," said Rotrand. "Obviously they have more work to do."​