The Government of Quebec, the City of Quebec and CDPQ Infra announced the signing of agreements sealing the partnership for the planning of the tramway component of Phase 1 of the CITÉ Plan. The partners also announced that the project will be officially named TramCité.
These agreements define the roles and responsibilities of the parties, the governance of the project and the scope of the work. The government, as project owner, defines the project objective, the timelines and the budget. It entrusts CDPQ Infra with the project management of TramCité.
Each partner now has a clear mandate to move the project forward and deliver to the citizens of Quebec a structuring public transport network that will improve service across the entire territory.
“Today, we are confirming a partnership to establish a concrete, realistic and collaborative plan to deliver the tramway project. For our beautiful Capitale-Nationale to also have, like many other capitals, a structuring infrastructure, we must improve public transit in our suburbs and increase the capacity of central axes. This is exactly what the future TramCité de Québec will allow,” said Geneviève Guilbault, Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert, Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
The City is now committed to continuing land acquisitions and preparatory work under its responsibility. It will also provide support to CDPQ Infra in its activities and work, as well as a one-stop shop that will facilitate access to municipal services.
“This agreement with our partners is an irreversible milestone in the construction of the tramway, and all citizens of the greater Quebec City region benefit from it. Thanks to the construction of TramCité, Quebec City will benefit from immense economic spinoffs and a structuring network that will reduce congestion and accelerate urban development. The rest will be magnificent, and this time, it’s the right time,” said Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Quebec City.
For its part, the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) will ensure that a transitional public transport network is put in place during the work in order to maintain mobility.
Finally, the City will support the RTC, which will prepare to operate the tramway as the future owner of the transport assets.
This agreement highlights the expertise of the City and the RTC and defines the maximum limit of the municipal financial contribution while respecting the City’s financial framework.
The signing of the agreement allows CDPQ Infra to set up a team dedicated to the project and to begin the technical studies and analyses required for its implementation. This will follow a collaborative approach, known as co-development, aimed at establishing a target price and schedule with the selected suppliers, which will be known at the end of the planning phase, in 2027.
“We will mobilize the expertise of our teams and we will carry out the TramCité project for the government, jointly with the City of Quebec and all partners. We will see the emergence of one of the first co-development projects in Quebec. This model reduces the risks, costs and deadlines related to implementation. At the end of rigorous planning, we will be able to confirm to the government a competitive target price and a schedule representing the best possible deadlines,” said Jean-Marc Arbaud, president and CEO of CDPQ Infra.
CDPQ Infra will define a rigorous procurement strategy to select suppliers for major contracts, particularly for civil engineering works and the supply of systems. A market notice will be published in the coming days to provide the industry with details on the procurement process.
CDPQ Infra will also undertake an information process with communities from the beginning of 2025.
“This agreement demonstrates a concern for efficiency and collaboration with partners, and marks an important step in the planning and implementation of the tramway project. The structuring network will enhance economic development and mobility in the Capitale-Nationale, and improve the quality of life of citizens,” said Jonatan Julien, MP for Charlesbourg, Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Minister responsible for the National Capital.
TramCité will be a modern tramway network whose first phase of development will total 19 kilometers.
This high-frequency structuring network will double the public transport offer in the busiest axis of the metropolitan community of Quebec.
It will include 29 stations, connecting the sectors of Le Gendre, Sainte-Foy, Université Laval, Parliament Hill, Saint-Roch and Charlesbourg.
The network will improve mobility while providing significant time savings to public transport users.
The project implementation agreement defines a governance structure. It is made up of various committees bringing together people representing the government, CDPQ Infra, the City of Quebec and the RTC.
These committees will be responsible for monitoring project planning and managing related issues, while coordinating the work of the stakeholders involved.
Featured image: (City of Quebec)
