Laval unveils sustainable mobility plan

Laval Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt and Société de transport de Laval (STL) chairman Jean-Jacques Beldié last week unveiled Laval's first sustainable mobility plan. It is geared toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which are produced by motorized transportation of all kinds.

Proposed measures
The plan proposes a total of 21 measures, including one for creating an urban environment that promotes sustainable mobility. For example, a series of actions would be implemented to encourage people to walk or cycle to their destinations. The plan also proposes improving the supply of public transit and active transportation, and in particular building five new Metro stations on the orange line and setting up new reserved lanes on Laval's major arteries.
Some measures aim to influence habits through tax and transit fares, while others set out to improve the eco-energy efficiency of motor vehicles – for instance by running the STL's bus network on electricity instead of petroleum-based fuel. Additional measures call upon major decision-makers other than the City of Laval or the STL to take action.

Looking to the future
Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt seemed enthusiastic about the measures. “In reading this plan, our residents will see that we intend to take action now to ensure a better future for generations to come,” he told journalists during a press conference held at the de la Concorde Metro station on June 14.
“We are setting an ambitious objective for ourselves with this plan: to reduce, by 50 per cent between now and 2031, the GHG emissions produced per capita that are related to transporting Laval residents. As the third largest city in Quebec, we firmly believe that we can significantly contribute toward the land-use planning reflections initiated for the Greater Montréal area.”
Beldié, who in addition to chairing the STL board is the city councillor for Laval’s Les Îles district, reiterated the STL's commitment to face the challenges of sustainable mobility. “The STL is very proud to be closely associated with developing and implementing the sustainable mobility plan,” he said. “It is with determination that the STL intends to take up the challenge of the fight against GHG emissions.”

Consultation coming
In preparing the action plan, various partners with a stake in the proposed measures were consulted. The plan will also be subject to a public consultation in the coming months. The city’s goal is to make the plan official policy starting next year.
The plan expands on concepts unveiled as part of ÉvoluCité, a sustainable urban planning process recently announced by the City of Laval. The new land-use planning philosophy envisions Laval’s future development as being in line with some of the latest major urban planning trends. To consult Laval's Sustainable Mobility Plan go to: www.evolucite.com.