Editorial:Jacques-Bizard extension makes sense, but what's next?

Julian Rodriguez

- March 25, 2011 at 10:15:28

It would be quite a complex challenge today to successfully plan to open and extend Jacques-Bizard Boulevard taking into consideration a number of obstacles that exist now than over 25 years ago. They include: the number of houses that were built south of Pierrefonds Blvd in which the width (and right-of-way) of the current artery is too narrow to provide four traffic lanes and a north-south bike path. As well, a new dilemma might arise at the southern end of the corridor along Stillview Avenue between the Highway 40 overpass and Hymus Boulevard where in the last decade, the area near Lakeshore General Hospital have been built up to include several active seniors' residences in Pointe-Claire and a number of new houses on the Kirkland side. It is obvious that traffic calming measures along with secure pedestrian crossings; synchronized traffic lights; priority measures for public transit buses; a north-south cycling path (connecting from Ile-Bizard south towards Cartier Ave and Lakeshore Rd); noise reduction measures (e.g. green-space berms like along de Salaberry Boulevard); and restricting through traffic at Highway 40 and/or Hymus Blvd (except for emergency vehicles and transit buses) will have to be provided to ensure a safer and reasonable transportation alternative. All of this through several residential zones in Pierrefonds, DDO and also parts of Kirkland and Pointe-Claire, along with the (undeveloped) mixed development and existing industrial sectors at Highway 40. Even though the Jacques-Bizard corridor which includes the Hydro-Quebec lands next to Sommerset Dr have been considered an urban thoroughfare by both the former Montreal Urban Community (MUC) and the current agglomeration of Montreal Island, pressure from neighbourhood residents in Pierrefonds were able to convince the borough to place the extension of this corridor as a low priority (and focus on the Highway 440 urban boulevard, west of St-Charles) in the borough's urban plan. Provided that the agglomeration have any will to go ahead with the Jacques-Bizard extension - in spite of the borough's plan and needing the required proper prior notices and lengthy consultations with the affected communities - there could be serious inconveniences for residents living south of Pierrefonds Boulevard with homes along this corridor, as well as for residents in Kirkland, just west of the corridor (particularly on de Salaberry), and for people at its southern end at Stillview Ave and Hymus Boulevard. Unless the current traffic restrictions stands as is at Pierrefonds Blvd, the calm lifestyle for a number of older residential neighourhoods (some built as early as the late 1950s up to the late 1970s-early 1980s) immediately adjacent to the Jacques-Bizard corridor would become less quiet and difficult to manage for everyone: pedestrians, drivers and cyclists alike.

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Elianna Pappas

- March 24, 2011 at 09:46:44

Openning the street to further traffic would be a risky move for all involved. Jacques- Bizard Blvd south of Pierrefonds Blvd is a narrow residential street which runs along side a park which attracts alot of pedestrain residents during the summer months. The speed limit was 30kkph until last year when it mysteriously increased to 40kph (right infront of the parK). Why I always wonder, as the police were never at a shortage of giving out fines to drivers who frequently run over 60kph. .Besides the high speeds, drivers rarely make a stop at the corner of Jacques-Bizard and Oakwood Rd. Drivers who try to follow the speed limit are frequently cut off by impatient drivers who try to cut them off from the passenger's side...I have personnaly witnessed two close calls with a pedestrian as this occured. So what does this mean for residents....our kids are not safe going to the park, We will have a hard time getting into and out of our driveways, since during rush hour, there is rarely a pause between consecutive cars. Want to open up the street for Ile Bizard....Put lights, speed bumps on the street. With all that..how attractive will that be for Ile Bizard residents....after all, they want a FASTER alternative to St Jean and St Charles, one where stopping and slowing down is not enforced.

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